as in oppressive
controlling the people of a country in a very strict way with complete power that cannot be opposed
A totalitarian state that did not even allow outsiders to visit.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in authoritarian
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of totalitarian
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 May 2025
Orwell’s 1984 novel is set in a totalitarian state, where people are brainwashed into obeying a leader known as Big Brother.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 2 May 2025
Néstor T. Carbonell, National Review, 16 July 2021
And there’s another reason why totalitarians capable of horrific human rights violations are a real hosting nightmare.
—Sarah Todd, Quartz, 27 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for totalitarian
Adjective
If that had been correct, the dissolution of the Soviet Union and freeing of its similarly totalitarian satellite regimes would have rendered the novel irrelevant to our present times.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 May 2025
Orwell’s 1984 novel is set in a totalitarian state, where people are brainwashed into obeying a leader known as Big Brother.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 2 May 2025
Noun
But that would not address the fundamental goal of the protests: to end the totalitarian stranglehold that has subjected the Cubans to an unbearable serfdom.
—Néstor T. Carbonell, National Review, 16 July 2021
And there’s another reason why totalitarians capable of horrific human rights violations are a real hosting nightmare.
—Sarah Todd, Quartz, 27 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for totalitarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totalitarian
Adjective
-
The United States held Qaddafi’s Libya up as a success story in the global war on terror, a former rogue state that had made amends for its murderous past, relinquished its nuclear-weapons program and reoriented its oppressive state apparatus around American foreign-policy priorities.—
Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
-
Contracts of adhesion are sometimes seen as oppressive, especially in the consumer context, but courts often regard them as enforceable.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Panahi’s film, his first since being released from prison in 2023, is a direct assault on Iran’s authoritarian regime.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
-
But this one rush job, HB 1205, was especially dear to the governor’s authoritarian heart.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 May 2025
Noun
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With the pandemic, the year-round population of a once-seasonal resort town swelled with Manhattan refugees, those in the Trump orbit, and tech and finance potentates, many of them serious collectors like Ken Griffin and Steve Ross.—
Ben Widdicombe,
Vulture,
12 May 2025
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But in his mid-80s, King George ponders whether to abdicate and devote his remaining days to finding female companionship (the aging potentate remains potent with the help of Viagra and similar pharmaceuticals).—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
5 May 2025
Noun
-
The documentary debuted in the Cannes Premiere section of the festival to a long ovation and strong reviews, praising the timeliness of the film in an era in which freedom of speech and civil liberties are under assault and autocrats are on the rise worldwide.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
-
We’re also threatened by autocrats and fascists and people that wants to limit this.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Satellite imagery captured what remained of a mangled 5,000-ton North Korean naval destroyer damaged during its launch ceremony this week, leaving the country's dictator distraught.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2025
-
After the dictator fell, it was made Paraguay’s official language, along with Spanish.—
Graciela Mochkofsky,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
Serena's reluctant to put a target on her husband's head, so June happily reminds her that Gabriel's a tyrant not fit to raise Noah.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
-
By the end of the finale episode, Kingpin has essentially taken control of the entire city and the Punisher is kidnapped by the corrupt police but Daredevil is assembling his own army to combat the tyrant.—
Skyler Trepel,
People.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Totalitarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totalitarian. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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