Autos in Greek means "same" or "self", so in an autocratic government all the power is held by the leader him- or herself. Autocratic governments are often called dictatorships, or sometimes autocracies. In everyday life, a teacher, a parent, or a football coach can all behave like autocrats as well.
democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers
an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel
Recent Examples on the WebThe increasingly autocratic government has shuttered independent news organizations.—Stephanie Nolen Thomas Cristofoletti, New York Times, 21 May 2024 During the visit, Xi has nodded to traditional European centers of power such as France and the European Union — but also laid heavy emphasis on deepening ties with autocratic allies on the continent’s fringe.—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024 By Charlie Campbell May 2, 2024 8:13 AM EDT
As a vocal backer of Bangladesh’s autocratic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Zahid Maleque’s five years as Minister of Health and Family Welfare weren’t without controversy.—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 2 May 2024 What happens to a child growing up amidst the clamour of an autocratic regime?—Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for autocratic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'autocratic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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