AUTHORITARIAN

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does authoritarian mean? 

• AUTHORITARIAN (noun)
  The noun AUTHORITARIAN has 1 sense:

1. a person who behaves in a tyrannical manner

  Familiarity information: AUTHORITARIAN used as a noun is very rare.

• AUTHORITARIAN (adjective)
  The adjective AUTHORITARIAN has 2 senses:

1. characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty

2. expecting unquestioning obedience

  Familiarity information: AUTHORITARIAN used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AUTHORITARIAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who behaves in a tyrannical manner

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

authoritarian; dictator

Context example:

my boss is a dictator who makes everyone work overtime

Hypernyms ("authoritarian" is a kind of...):

oppressor (a person of authority who subjects others to undue pressures)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "authoritarian"):

Big Brother (a totalitarian leader and invader of privacy)

disciplinarian; martinet; moralist (someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms)

• AUTHORITARIAN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty

Synonyms:

authoritarian; autocratic; despotic; dictatorial; tyrannic; tyrannical

Context example:

a tyrannical government

Similar:

undemocratic (not in agreement with or according to democratic doctrine or practice or ideals)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Expecting unquestioning obedience

Synonyms:

authoritarian; dictatorial; overbearing

Context example:

insufferably overbearing behavior toward the waiter

Similar:

domineering (tending to domineer)