authoritarian
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English
Etymology
Circa 1880 authority + -arian
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ɔːˌθɒɹ.ɪˈtɛə̯.ɹɪən/
Audio (UK) (file)
- (General American) IPA(key): /əˌθɔɹ.əˈtɛɹ.i.ən/, /ɔˌθɔɹ.əˈtɛɹ.i.ən/
Adjective
authoritarian (comparative more authoritarian, superlative most authoritarian)
- Of, or relating to, or exhibiting strict obedience to an authority; favoring authoritarianism over civic and individual liberties.
- the authoritarian personality
- Demanding obedience to authority; marked by authoritarianism; dictatorial, tyrannical.
- The authoritarian government was demanding stricter laws for low-wage peasants.
- 2022, “September 25, 2022”, in Mainland Affairs Council, archived from the original on 04 March 2023, Chronology:
- Wang Yi blatantly intimidates the world at the UNGA. He is a cheat and bully on the global stage in fundamental violation of the facts. Democratic countries should clearly recognize and unify against the challenge of authoritarian intervention. The Republic of China is a sovereign state. Taiwan has never been part of the People's Republic of China in historical fact, international law, or reality.
- Tending to impose one's demands upon others as if one were an authority.
Synonyms
- (strictly obedient, supportive of obedience): See Thesaurus:bossy
- (demanding strict obedience): See Thesaurus:bossy
- (tending to impose one's demands): arrogant, commanding, haughty, imperious
- See also Thesaurus:bossy
Antonyms
- (antonym(s) of "characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority"): liberal
- (antonym(s) of "tending to impose one's demands"): servile, humble, modest
Derived terms
Translations
of, or relating to, absolute obedience to an authority
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demanding obedience to authority; dictatorial
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tending to impose one's demands upon others as if one were an authority
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Noun
authoritarian (plural authoritarians)
- One who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.
- The dictator was an authoritarian.
- 2020 April 14, Quinta Jurecic, Benjamin Wittes, “Being an Actual Authoritarian Is Too Much Work for Trump”, in The Atlantic:
- Trump may be a Schmittian by instinct and aspiration, but he’s a fair-weather Schmittian only. A true authoritarian, confronted by limits on his power, might have ripped through them in service of establishing his authority.
- One who follows and is excessively obedient to authority.
Translations
one who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority
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one who follows authority
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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References
- “authoritarian”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- “authoritarian”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.