authoritarian
/ɔ:,θɔri'teəriən/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Expecting unquestioning obedience: Characterized by demanding complete submission to authority without allowing questions or dissent.
- Favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom: Describing a system, government, or person that concentrates power and limits individual liberties.
Noun:
- A person who behaves in a tyrannical manner: An individual who exercises power in an overbearing, controlling way, demanding absolute obedience.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The company's culture was highly authoritarian, leaving no room for employee feedback.
- He grew up in an authoritarian household where children were seen but not heard.
- Noun:
- The manager was an authoritarian who micromanaged every detail of the project.
- True democrats oppose authoritarians who seek to dismantle civil liberties.
Advanced Usage
- Authoritarian personality: A psychological concept describing a personality type characterized by obedience to authority, conventionalism, and aggression towards those who defy norms.
- The study explored the link between an authoritarian personality and political preferences.
- Authoritarian regime/government/state: A political system where power is concentrated in the hands of a leader or small elite not constitutionally responsible to the people.
- The country transitioned from an authoritarian regime to a fledgling democracy.
Variants and Related Words
- Authoritarianism (n): The principle of blind submission to authority, as opposed to individual freedom of thought and action.
- The rise of authoritarianism is a threat to global stability.
- Authoritatively (adv): In a commanding and confident manner that expects to be obeyed.
- She spoke authoritatively on the subject.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Autocratic, dictatorial, despotic, tyrannical, domineering, overbearing.
- Noun: Autocrat, dictator, despot, tyrant.
Related Phrases
- Authoritarian rule: Governance marked by the enforcement of strict obedience.
- The nation suffered for decades under authoritarian rule.
- Authoritarian leadership: A leadership style where a single leader makes all decisions with little input from group members.
- The team's creativity was stifled by the CEO's authoritarian leadership.
Adjective
- expecting unquestioning obedience
- the timid child of authoritarian parents
- insufferably overbearing behavior toward the waiter
- characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty
- an authoritarian regime
- autocratic government
- despotic rulers
- a dictatorial rule that lasted for the duration of the war
- a tyrannical government
Noun
- a person who behaves in a tyrannical manner
- my boss is a dictator who makes everyone work overtime