Authoritarian
adjective
Relating to a system of government that requires complete obedience to the state.
The country is ruled by an authoritarian regime.
Often appears as...
- authoritarian regime
- authoritarian rule
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
noun
A person who favours strict obedience to authority.
He is known as an authoritarian in our office.
Often appears as...
- known as an authoritarian
- seen as an authoritarian
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
Expecting complete obedience and control over a group or place.
Their father is authoritarian and doesn't allow them out after 10pm.
Often appears as...
- authoritarian parent
- authoritarian approach
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Relating to a system of government that requires complete obedience to the state.
The country is ruled by an authoritarian regime.
Often appears as...
- authoritarian regime
- authoritarian rule
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
noun
A person who favours strict obedience to authority.
He is known as an authoritarian in our office.
Often appears as...
- known as an authoritarian
- seen as an authoritarian
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
Expecting complete obedience and control over a group or place.
Their father is authoritarian and doesn't allow them out after 10pm.
Often appears as...
- authoritarian parent
- authoritarian approach
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Political Context
Used to describe controlling governments, often with a negative connotation.
Authoritarian regimes often suppress free speech.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Democratic
Implies a lack of democracy and citizen participation in government.
In an authoritarian state, elections are typically neither free nor fair.
Pro Tip 3/3Obedience Emphasized
Highlights obedience over personal freedom.
Authoritarian leaders demand unquestioning obedience.
Pro Tip 1/3Political Context
Used to describe controlling governments, often with a negative connotation.
Authoritarian regimes often suppress free speech.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Democratic
Implies a lack of democracy and citizen participation in government.
In an authoritarian state, elections are typically neither free nor fair.
Pro Tip 3/3Obedience Emphasized
Highlights obedience over personal freedom.
Authoritarian leaders demand unquestioning obedience.
Pro Tip 1/3Political Context
Used to describe controlling governments, often with a negative connotation.
Authoritarian regimes often suppress free speech.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Democratic
Implies a lack of democracy and citizen participation in government.
In an authoritarian state, elections are typically neither free nor fair.
Pro Tip 3/3Obedience Emphasized
Highlights obedience over personal freedom.
Authoritarian leaders demand unquestioning obedience.
Compare with
arbitraryautocraticdespoticdictatorialdomineeroppressivetotalitariantyrannical
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Video examples
The moral roots of...
so you might say okay there are these differences between liberals and conservatives but what makes those three other foundations moral aren't those just the foundations of xenophobia and authoritarianism and puritanism what makes them moral the answer i think is contained in this incredible triptych from hieronymus bosch the garden of earthly delights
Video examples
Africa’s rhyming history...
that had not changed was a dependency forged in the colonial period on the export of a few primary products as economic conditions tighten so surely did the political almost everywhere regimes became more authoritarian at best their returns towards relatively
Video examples
Evgeny Morozov: How the...
that somehow this is going to harm these dictatorships, but in many cases it only strengthens them. And you may wonder why. I'll just give you a very short list of reasons why authoritarian deliberation may actually help the dictators.
Video examples
Why do people join...
to financial assets and living arrangements. Cults also demand obedience to human leaders who tend to be highly persuasive people with authoritarian and narcissistic streaks motivated by money, sex, power, or all three.
Video examples
The first and last king...
But while the king was initially popular among his subjects, his labor mandates were an uncomfortable reminder of the slavery Haitians fought to destroy. Over time, his increasingly authoritarian policies lost support,
Video examples
Yasheng Huang: Does...
Burma didn't succeed. The Philippines didn't succeed. If you look at the statistical evidence worldwide, there's really no support for the idea that authoritarian governments hold a systematic edge over democracies
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
the health of our free thought? Well, one study -- actually, several studies in neuroscience -- show that when we're afraid, at least three things happen. We become more accepting of authoritarianism,
Video examples
Can you outsmart the...
to the global spread of authoritarian communist regimes. It’s as if we were to say you were clothed, now you’re in your underwear, so soon everyone in the world will be completely naked.
Video examples
Facebook's role in...
Because as it stands, I don't think it is. And so my question to you is, is this what you want? Is this how you want history to remember as the handmaidens to authoritarianism
Video examples
Chaos in the Heart of...
that came into the country attacked the then government, took power from the government and and then started to rule over the population in a very authoritarian way.
Video examples
The moral roots of...
so you might say okay there are these differences between liberals and conservatives but what makes those three other foundations moral aren't those just the foundations of xenophobia and authoritarianism and puritanism what makes them moral the answer i think is contained in this incredible triptych from hieronymus bosch the garden of earthly delights
Video examples
Africa’s rhyming history...
that had not changed was a dependency forged in the colonial period on the export of a few primary products as economic conditions tighten so surely did the political almost everywhere regimes became more authoritarian at best their returns towards relatively
Video examples
Evgeny Morozov: How the...
that somehow this is going to harm these dictatorships, but in many cases it only strengthens them. And you may wonder why. I'll just give you a very short list of reasons why authoritarian deliberation may actually help the dictators.
Video examples
Why do people join...
to financial assets and living arrangements. Cults also demand obedience to human leaders who tend to be highly persuasive people with authoritarian and narcissistic streaks motivated by money, sex, power, or all three.
Video examples
The first and last king...
But while the king was initially popular among his subjects, his labor mandates were an uncomfortable reminder of the slavery Haitians fought to destroy. Over time, his increasingly authoritarian policies lost support,
Video examples
Yasheng Huang: Does...
Burma didn't succeed. The Philippines didn't succeed. If you look at the statistical evidence worldwide, there's really no support for the idea that authoritarian governments hold a systematic edge over democracies
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
the health of our free thought? Well, one study -- actually, several studies in neuroscience -- show that when we're afraid, at least three things happen. We become more accepting of authoritarianism,
Video examples
Can you outsmart the...
to the global spread of authoritarian communist regimes. It’s as if we were to say you were clothed, now you’re in your underwear, so soon everyone in the world will be completely naked.
Video examples
Facebook's role in...
Because as it stands, I don't think it is. And so my question to you is, is this what you want? Is this how you want history to remember as the handmaidens to authoritarianism
Video examples
Chaos in the Heart of...
that came into the country attacked the then government, took power from the government and and then started to rule over the population in a very authoritarian way.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Srikumar Rao
Indian Educator
Certainly businesses the world over are facing greater competitive pressure than ever before, and this leads to executive stress which, in turn, tends to bring out authoritarian tendencies in many bosses. To balance this, we now know a lot more about how we can successfully cope with a situation that is not likely to improve in the near future.
Quote examples
Henry Giroux
American Critic
Universities are some of the few places left where a struggle for the commons, for public life, if not democracy itself, can be made visible through the medium of collective voices and social movements energized by the need for a politics and way of life counter to authoritarian capitalism.
Quote examples
Jeff Zucker
American Businessman
When an authoritarian regime starts taking down feeds and blocking websites just because we expose the truth... that's an attack on freedom of the press everywhere. When authoritarian regimes around the world start attacking journalists like that, we all have a problem.
Quote examples
Andrew Scheer
Canadian Politician
I believe in it so passionately because anywhere you look in the world, where governments become too big or become authoritarian, speech and expression is one of the first fundamental freedoms to go.
Quote examples
Joshua Wong
Chinese Activist
As I reflect on the successes and failures of our push for democracy, reading widely in search for a path out of authoritarian rule, I'll keep writing to encourage myself and those on my side.
Quote examples
Mahathir Mohamad
Malaysian Politician
I am the first authoritarian government elected to become a dictator and then resigning as a dictator. So this is the first dictator in the world who has resigned while still quite healthy.
Quote examples
Alexander Lukashenko
Belarusian Politician
My position and the state will never allow me to become a dictator, but an authoritarian ruling style is characteristic of me.
Quote examples
Niall Ferguson
British Historian
As a teacher, my strategy is to encourage questioning. I'm the least authoritarian professor you'll ever meet.
Quote examples
John Ratcliffe
We very clearly do not want an authoritarian regime... setting standards in the world marketplace.
Quote examples
Joe Chung
Chinese Writer
Those who abhors democracy would rarely immigrate to an authoritarian state if they have to.
Quote examples
Srikumar Rao
Indian Educator
Certainly businesses the world over are facing greater competitive pressure than ever before, and this leads to executive stress which, in turn, tends to bring out authoritarian tendencies in many bosses. To balance this, we now know a lot more about how we can successfully cope with a situation that is not likely to improve in the near future.
Quote examples
Henry Giroux
American Critic
Universities are some of the few places left where a struggle for the commons, for public life, if not democracy itself, can be made visible through the medium of collective voices and social movements energized by the need for a politics and way of life counter to authoritarian capitalism.
Quote examples
Jeff Zucker
American Businessman
When an authoritarian regime starts taking down feeds and blocking websites just because we expose the truth... that's an attack on freedom of the press everywhere. When authoritarian regimes around the world start attacking journalists like that, we all have a problem.
Quote examples
Andrew Scheer
Canadian Politician
I believe in it so passionately because anywhere you look in the world, where governments become too big or become authoritarian, speech and expression is one of the first fundamental freedoms to go.
Quote examples
Joshua Wong
Chinese Activist
As I reflect on the successes and failures of our push for democracy, reading widely in search for a path out of authoritarian rule, I'll keep writing to encourage myself and those on my side.
Quote examples
Mahathir Mohamad
Malaysian Politician
I am the first authoritarian government elected to become a dictator and then resigning as a dictator. So this is the first dictator in the world who has resigned while still quite healthy.
Quote examples
Alexander Lukashenko
Belarusian Politician
My position and the state will never allow me to become a dictator, but an authoritarian ruling style is characteristic of me.
Quote examples
Niall Ferguson
British Historian
As a teacher, my strategy is to encourage questioning. I'm the least authoritarian professor you'll ever meet.
Quote examples
John Ratcliffe
We very clearly do not want an authoritarian regime... setting standards in the world marketplace.
Quote examples
Joe Chung
Chinese Writer
Those who abhors democracy would rarely immigrate to an authoritarian state if they have to.
Example 1 of 10
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