dictatorship
noun
dic·ta·tor·ship
dik-ˈtā-tər-ˌship 
ˈdik-ˌtā-
1
: the office of dictator
2
: autocratic rule, control, or leadership
people suffering under his dictatorship
3
a
: a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique
Communism and dictatorship
b
: a government organization or group in which absolute power is so concentrated
rising up against a military dictatorship
c
: a despotic state
establishing a dictatorship
Examples of dictatorship in a Sentence
The country suffered for many years under his dictatorship.
His enemies accused him of establishing a dictatorship.
Recent Examples on the Web
Made as Brazil’s dictatorship was losing its grip, these films confronted repression indirectly, turning sensuality into an act of defiance.
—
Lise Pedersen, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
As the series continues, the twins find their parents, grow up, fall in love and fight dictatorship.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
Filho himself had also suffered under the dictatorship and political forces tried to destabilisize the release of his 2016 film Aquarius.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
While the Venezuelan crisis has had ripple effects throughout the region because of the exodus of over seven million people, Venezuela’s descent into a full dictatorship without much pushback from other Latin American leaders comes as little surprise.
—Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
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Lise Pedersen, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
As the series continues, the twins find their parents, grow up, fall in love and fight dictatorship.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
Filho himself had also suffered under the dictatorship and political forces tried to destabilisize the release of his 2016 film Aquarius.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
While the Venezuelan crisis has had ripple effects throughout the region because of the exodus of over seven million people, Venezuela’s descent into a full dictatorship without much pushback from other Latin American leaders comes as little surprise.
—Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictatorship. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dictatorship
noun
dic·ta·tor·ship
dik-ˈtāt-ər-ˌship
ˈdik-ˌtāt-
1
: the office of a dictator
2
: rule, control, or leadership by one person with total power
3
: a government or country in which total power is held by a dictator or a small group
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