generalissimo
Highest military rank
A generalissimo is a military commander holding supreme authority over all armed forces, ranking above all generals.
The title has been used by dictators and strongmen—Franco in Spain, Chiang Kai-shek in China, Stalin in the Soviet Union.
The word carries connotations of autocratic power and military pageantry: The generalissimo reviewed his troops from the balcony.
Ruler with total control
- autocratSole wielder of power
- strongmanPowerful lifter or despot
- despotRuler with absolute power
- tyrantCruel, absolute ruler
overlord · warlord · military dictator · caudillo · commandant · field marshal · commander-in-chief · supremo
Spanish surname, famous dictator
- Chiang Kai-shekChinese Nationalist leader
- StalinSoviet autocrat, mid-century
- TrujilloCaribbean authoritarian ruler
- PinochetChilean military autocrat
Noriega · Batista · caudillo · Latin America · Spain · fascist · nationalist · cold war
Organized land-based military
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
- juntaPost-coup ruling clique
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- regimeSystem of governance
garrison · officer corps · high command · military government · barracks · parade · uniform · medals
Imposing absolute control
- autocraticRuling with absolute authority
- despoticExercising absolute authority
- tyrannicalExercising power unjustly
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
absolute · totalitarian · imperious · domineering · iron-fisted · heavy-handed · supreme · unquestioned
dictator
Ruler with total control
tyrant · overlord · warlord · military dictator · caudillo · commandant · field marshal · commander-in-chief · supremo · great leader
Franco
Spanish surname, famous dictator
- Chiang Kai-shekChinese Nationalist leader
- StalinSoviet autocrat, mid-century
- TrujilloCaribbean authoritarian ruler
Pinochet · Noriega · Batista · caudillo · Latin America · Spain · fascist · nationalist · cold war · twentieth century
army
Organized land-based military
regime · garrison · officer corps · high command · military government · barracks · parade · uniform · medals · epaulettes
dictatorial
Imposing absolute control
- autocraticRuling with absolute authority
- despoticExercising absolute authority
- tyrannicalExercising power unjustly
authoritarian · absolute · totalitarian · imperious · domineering · iron-fisted · heavy-handed · supreme · unquestioned · unchallenged
- commanderscommander in chief, admiral, commodore, colonel, brigadier
- generalsfield marshal, Eisenhower, Patton, MacArthur, Washington
- military rankscaptain, major, sergeant, private, officer
- autocratsautocrat, despot, dictator, tyrant, strongman
- dictatorsdictator, tyrant, despot, autocrat, Stalin
- military leadersGeorge Washington, Napoleon, commander, admiral, Napoleon Bonaparte
generalissimoprivate
Restricted to certain parties
foot soldier · enlisted man · rank and file · enlisted soldier · conscript
generalissimoprime minister
Leader of a parliamentary state
figurehead · democrat · elected leader · constitutional monarch · parliamentary leader
generalissimosubordinate
One lower in rank
underling · the masses · the people · follower · pawn
general, generally, generals, generality, generalize, generalization, generalizing, generalship