English Dictionary

AUTHORITARIAN

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

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 mannerplay

  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 sovereigntyplay

2. expecting unquestioning obedienceplay

  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)


 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Money makes the mare go." (English proverb)

"Force, no matter how concealed, begets resistance." (Native American proverb, Lakota)

"Your son is like how you raised him. And your husband is like how you trained him." (Arabic proverb)

"Hunger drives the wolf from its den." (Corsican proverb)



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