autocrat
/ˈɔːtəkrat
/noun
1A ruler who has absolute power: like many autocrats, Franco found the exercise of absolute power addictive...
- And he was, if you like, an absolute autocrat, a ruler.
- As revolution spread to Palermo, Milan and Naples it seemed as if the people of Italy could break the domination of the myriad of foreign rulers and domestic autocrats.
- They established a framework for a strongly authoritarian government and placed no limitations on the powers of the autocrat.
Synonyms
absolute ruler, dictator, despot, tyrant, monocrat;
authoritarian, absolutist
1.1An imperious person who insists on complete obedience from others: Eva was an autocrat—people didn’t argue unless they had a lot of courage...
- The rights of individuals are no longer inalienable, nor are their persons inviolable; all depends on the good will of the Commander, the military autocrat.
- But, in corporations, the autocrats who run these places can't leave people on their own.
- In other words, churches had been razed on the basis of an untruth, while the laity - who generally opposed changes mandated by clerical autocrats - were expected to foot the bill.
Origin
Early 19th century: from French autocrate, from Greek autokratēs, from autos 'self' + kratos 'power'.