Authoritarian — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ən/ au·thor·i·tar·i·an

Meaning & Definition of Authoritarian

Authoritarian (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority
  2. of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people

Authoritarian (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. fond of ordering people around

    "grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world"

    similar: authoritative, autocratic, bossy, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful, overbearing, peremptory, tyrannical, tyrannous
    related: arrogant, assumptive, disdainful, fastuous, haughty, highfalutin, high-and-mighty, high-hat, huffy, important, lofty, lordly, overweening, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, proud, self-asserting, supercilious, superior, toplofty, uppish, uppity, commanding, controlling, dictating, regimental, arbitrary, high-handed, imperial, directorial, magisterial, aggressive, assertive, self-assertive, imperative, conceited, narcissistic, pompous, vain, all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent, firm, stern
    near: humble, meek, modest, unassuming, amenable, docile, obedient, tractable, indecisive, irresolute, acquiescent, compliant, passive, resigned, submissive, yielding

  2. given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint

    "an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp"

    similar: austere, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict, tough
    related: demanding, exacting, uncharitable, unforgiving, adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, dour, gruff, ascetic, monastic, monkish, browbeating, bullying, determined, firm, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, unflinching, dogged, intractable, obstinate
    opposite: clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant
    near: easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, yielding, responsive, willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable, pliant

Authoritarian (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in disciplinarian, stickler

    similar: disciplinarian, discipliner, martinet, stickler, micromanager, taskmaster, taskmistress, perfectionist, purist, carper, castigator, caviler, censurer, criticizer, disparager, faultfinder, hypercritic, knocker, niggler, nitpicker

  2. as in dictator, tyrant

    similar: Big Brother, despot, dictator, führer, monocrat, overlord, paramount, tyrant, Caesar, czar, emir, emperor, empress, kaiser, khan, khedive, king, lord, mikado, mogul, prince, queen, satrap, shah, sultan, suzerain, coruler, autocrat, monarch, potentate, ruler, sovereign

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Authoritarian

The most common words with a similar meaning to Authoritarian:

authoritative, autocratic, bossy, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful, overbearing, peremptory, tyrannical, tyrannous, austere, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict, tough, disciplinarian, discipliner, martinet, stickler, micromanager, taskmaster, taskmistress, perfectionist, purist, carper, castigator, caviler, censurer, criticizer, disparager, faultfinder

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Authoritarian

Words with the opposite meaning of Authoritarian:

clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant

Related Words for Authoritarian

arrogant, assumptive, disdainful, fastuous, haughty, highfalutin, high-and-mighty, high-hat, huffy, important, lofty, lordly, overweening, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, proud, self-asserting, supercilious, superior, toplofty, uppish, uppity, commanding, controlling, dictating, regimental, arbitrary, high-handed, imperial

Near Antonyms of Authoritarian

humble, meek, modest, unassuming, amenable, docile, obedient, tractable, indecisive, irresolute, acquiescent, compliant, passive, resigned, submissive, yielding, easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, responsive

Word Forms of Authoritarian

Derived words: authoritarian (noun), authoritarianism (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Authoritarian

authority + -arian

First known use: 1861

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Authoritarian

Words & Phrases Containing Authoritarian

antiauthoritarian

Frequently Asked Questions about Authoritarian

What does "Authoritarian" mean?

"Authoritarian" means of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Authoritarian"?

Other words for "Authoritarian" include authoritative, autocratic, bossy, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious and masterful. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Authoritarian" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Authoritarian"?

There are 159 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Authoritarian". Common alternatives include authoritative, autocratic, bossy, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful, overbearing and peremptory.

What is the opposite of "Authoritarian"?

Antonyms of "Authoritarian" include clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient and tolerant. Near antonyms include humble, meek, modest and unassuming.

How do you use "Authoritarian" in a sentence?

Examples of "Authoritarian" in a sentence: "grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world"; "an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp".

Is "Authoritarian" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Authoritarian" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Authoritarian" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Authoritarian" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Authoritarian"?

"Authoritarian" is pronounced /ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ən/ and divided into syllables as au·thor·i·tar·i·an.