autocratic
adjective
au·to·crat·ic ˌȯ-tə-ˈkra-tik 
variants or less commonly autocratical
ˌȯ-tə-ˈkra-ti-kəl
1
: of, relating to, or being an autocracy : absolute
an autocratic government
2
: characteristic of or resembling an autocrat : despotic
an autocratic ruler
autocratically
ˌȯ-tə-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē
adverb 
Did you know?
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.
Synonyms
- absolute
- arbitrary
- czarist
- tsarist
- tzarist
- despotic
- dictatorial
- monocratic
- tyrannical
- tyrannic
- tyrannous
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Web China’s autocratic government—while not a thing to be envied—at least has the advantage of picking out a destination and sticking with it. 
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 26 Aug. 2022 Over the past several weeks, López Obrador threatened to boycott the summit if the United States didn't invite very country in the region, including the autocratic government leaders of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 6 June 2022 The two-day conference reflects a deepening of ties between the American right wing and the autocratic government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. BostonGlobe.com, 19 May 2022 Trump’s behavior, by contrast, resembled the denialism and the autocratic style of Jair Bolsonaro, in Brazil. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2020 In Latin America, several countries have turned to more autocratic or anti-U.S. governments while building stronger ties with China. Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2022 WhatsApp’s user penetration of developing and autocratic markets, where the need for such security is more acute than in the West, is fairly universal. Zak Doffman, Forbes, 9 Apr. 2022 Smith acquiesces to contemporary platitudes that stereotype the black male work ethic as churlish and autocratic, confusing those traits with strength. Armond White, National Review, 11 Feb. 2022 The protests that broke out in early January in Central Asia’s largest economy were initially directed against a drastic fuel-price hike, before drawing in people with grievances against Kazakhstan’s sclerotic and autocratic political system. Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2022 See More
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 26 Aug. 2022 Over the past several weeks, López Obrador threatened to boycott the summit if the United States didn't invite very country in the region, including the autocratic government leaders of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 6 June 2022 The two-day conference reflects a deepening of ties between the American right wing and the autocratic government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. BostonGlobe.com, 19 May 2022 Trump’s behavior, by contrast, resembled the denialism and the autocratic style of Jair Bolsonaro, in Brazil. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2020 In Latin America, several countries have turned to more autocratic or anti-U.S. governments while building stronger ties with China. Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2022 WhatsApp’s user penetration of developing and autocratic markets, where the need for such security is more acute than in the West, is fairly universal. Zak Doffman, Forbes, 9 Apr. 2022 Smith acquiesces to contemporary platitudes that stereotype the black male work ethic as churlish and autocratic, confusing those traits with strength. Armond White, National Review, 11 Feb. 2022 The protests that broke out in early January in Central Asia’s largest economy were initially directed against a drastic fuel-price hike, before drawing in people with grievances against Kazakhstan’s sclerotic and autocratic political system. Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see autocrat
First Known Use
1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1
autocratic
adjective
variants also autocratical
1
as in oppressive
exercising power or authority without interference by others democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- oppressive
- despotic
- tyrannical
- dictatorial
- tyrannic
- tyrannous
- czarist
- authoritarian
- arbitrary
- totalitarian
- monocratic
- domineering
- tsarist
- antidemocratic
- absolute
- tzarist
- jackbooted
- magisterial
- omnipotent
- autonomous
- imperious
- sovereign
- high-handed
- antirepublican
- almighty
- all-powerful
- unconditional
- masterful
- unlimited
- sovran
- self-governing
- self-ruling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- limited
- democratic
- constitutional
- restricted
- lawful
- republican
- restrained
- circumscribed
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel Synonyms & Similar Words
- authoritarian
- imperious
- arrogant
- dictatorial
- despotic
- tyrannical
- authoritative
- domineering
- bossy
- overbearing
- imperial
- tyrannous
- tyrannic
- aggressive
- peremptory
- masterful
- supercilious
- haughty
- arbitrary
- uppity
- regimental
- controlling
- assumptive
- disdainful
- assertive
- dictating
- pretentious
- commanding
- superior
- presumptuous
- important
- overweening
- magisterial
- almighty
- narcissistic
- lordly
- huffy
- high-handed
- high-and-mighty
- directorial
- omnipotent
- uppish
- pompous
- proud
- conceited
- stern
- presuming
- highfalutin
- self-asserting
- lofty
- hifalutin
- toplofty
- fastuous
- toploftical
- imperative
- self-assertive
- high-hat
- all-powerful
- vain
- firm
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- humble
- meek
- obedient
- modest
- docile
- unassuming
- amenable
- passive
- indecisive
- tractable
- submissive
- compliant
- irresolute
- acquiescent
- yielding
- resigned