authoritarian
Brooking no dissent
Authoritarian describes a system or person demanding strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
An authoritarian government concentrates power and limits dissent.
An authoritarian parent enforces rigid rules without explanation.
As a noun, an authoritarian is someone who favors or exercises such control: The new CEO governed like an authoritarian.
Unchecked single-ruler government
- autocracyRule by one
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- oligarchyRule by few
junta · totalitarianism · police state · one-party state · regime · strongman · puppet state · military rule
Tending to suppress
- tyrannicalExercising power unjustly
- despoticExercising absolute authority
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
- draconianExtremely harsh, especially laws
iron-fisted · brutal · harsh · cruel · domineering · heavy-handed · overbearing · suffocating
Ruler with total control
- autocratSole wielder of power
- despotRuler with absolute power
- tyrantCruel, absolute ruler
- strongmanPowerful lifter or despot
overlord · supremo · generalissimo · caudillo · warlord · potentate · czar · commissar
Systematic observation of subjects
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
repression · suppression · restriction · prohibition · crackdown · curfew · mandate · decree
Ultranationalist dictatorial political system
- StalinismTotalitarian Communist doctrine
- MaoismPeasant-centered communist doctrine
- NazismGerman fascist totalitarianism
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
ultranationalism · militarism · statism · cult of personality · indoctrination · dogma · orthodoxy · ideology
Requiring great effort
- controllingExerting authority over others
- punitiveInflicting or intending penalty
- restrictiveImposing narrow boundaries
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
cold · unresponsive · domineering · overbearing · strict · discipline · obedience · expectations
Rigorous, without flexibility
- rigidUnable to bend
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- sternStrict or ship's aft
severe · uncompromising · regimented · hierarchical · top-down · command · obedience · conformity
dictatorship
Unchecked single-ruler government
oligarchy · junta · totalitarianism · police state · one-party state · regime · strongman · puppet state · military rule · absolute monarchy
repressive
Tending to suppress
- tyrannicalExercising power unjustly
- despoticExercising absolute authority
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
draconian · iron-fisted · brutal · harsh · cruel · domineering · heavy-handed · overbearing · suffocating · crushing
dictator
Ruler with total control
strongman · overlord · supremo · generalissimo · caudillo · warlord · potentate · czar · commissar · commandant
surveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
enforcement · repression · suppression · restriction · prohibition · crackdown · curfew · mandate · decree · edict
fascism
Ultranationalist dictatorial political system
- StalinismTotalitarian Communist doctrine
- MaoismPeasant-centered communist doctrine
- NazismGerman fascist totalitarianism
totalitarianism · ultranationalism · militarism · statism · cult of personality · indoctrination · dogma · orthodoxy · ideology · party line
demanding
Requiring great effort
- controllingExerting authority over others
- punitiveInflicting or intending penalty
- restrictiveImposing narrow boundaries
harsh · cold · unresponsive · domineering · overbearing · strict · discipline · obedience · expectations · rules
strict
Rigorous, without flexibility
- rigidUnable to bend
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
stern · severe · uncompromising · regimented · hierarchical · top-down · command · obedience · conformity · punishment
- parentinggentle parenting, child, mom, children, kids
- Dystopia1984, Nineteen Eighty-Four, dystopian fiction, totalitarianism, Brave New World
- family dynamicsfamily dynamics, family roles, family therapy, sibling rivalry, parenting
- politicalconservative, liberal, moderate, centrist, leftist
- authorityleaders, ruler, rulers, monarch, bosses
- oppressivestifling, suffocating, smothering, crushing, repressive
authoritariandemocratic
Government by the people
libertarian · liberal democracy · liberal · egalitarian · pluralistic
authoritarianpermissive
Tolerant, lacking strictness
lenient · indulgent · laissez-faire · hands-off · flexible
authoritarianlax
Insufficiently firm or rigorous
permissive · tolerant · forbearing · clement · easy
- authoritarian regimeGovernment with concentrated, unchecked power
- authoritarian ruleCentralized, unaccountable power
- authoritarian controlOppressive, centralized dominance
- authoritarian parentingRigid, controlling child-rearing approach