Authoritarian Regimes

noun a ruler who has absolute power and authority

adjective relating to or characteristic of an autocrat

• The autocrat ruled with absolute power and authority, making all decisions without consulting anyone else.
• The autocrat bossed everyone around and wouldn't listen to anyone else's opinions.
• That autocrat is such a control freak, always wanting things done their way.
• In the world of business, he was seen as an autocrat, always dominating meetings and calling all the shots.

adjective relating to or characteristic of an autocrat; dictatorial

• The autocratic ruler made all decisions without consulting anyone else.
• The boss is so autocratic, he never listens to anyone's ideas.
• My mom can be really autocratic when it comes to cleaning my room.
• The autocratic grip of fear held the town in its clutches.

noun A communist party official in charge of political education and organization.

• The commissar was responsible for ensuring the soldiers followed orders.
• The commissar is always watching us, so we better behave.
• I heard the commissar is cracking down on rule-breakers.
• She acted like the commissar of the group, making sure everyone stayed in line.

noun a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way

• The despot ruled over the kingdom with an iron fist, suppressing any form of dissent.
• The despot in charge of the company makes all the decisions without consulting anyone.
• That despot boss is always breathing down our necks, making sure we're working non-stop.
• The despot of self-doubt can be just as damaging as any external force holding you back.

noun a form of government in which a ruler has absolute power and authority

• The country's transition from a dictatorship to a democracy was a long and challenging process.
• Living under a dictatorship means having limited freedom and rights.
• Dictatorships suck, man. I feel bad for the people living there.
• In a dictatorship of fashion, trends are enforced without question.

noun A title used by Adolf Hitler as the leader of the Nazi Party and Germany from 1933 to 1945.

• The fuhrer of the political party made a public announcement regarding their new policies.
• Did you hear what the fuhrer said in his speech last night?
• I can't believe that fuhrer is still in charge, he's so out of touch.
• In a world of chaos, he was seen as the fuhrer who could bring order and stability.

noun a marching step in which the legs are swung high and kept straight and the shoulders are thrown back

• The soldiers marched in perfect unison, executing the precise movements of the goose step.
• I tried to goose step along with the parade but I just couldn't keep up!
• Those dancers were goose stepping all over the dance floor last night!
• The company's new policy seemed to be a goose step towards stricter regulations.

adjective opposed to liberal principles; restricting freedom of thought or behavior

• The government's illiberal policies have sparked widespread criticism from human rights groups.
• I can't believe how illiberal some people can be when it comes to accepting different viewpoints.
• His illiberal attitude towards immigrants is totally uncalled for.
• The illiberal mindset is like building walls around your own mind, restricting new ideas from entering.

noun a small group or council, especially one that rules a country after a coup d'état

• The military junta took control of the government after the coup.
• The junta is calling for a meeting tomorrow.
• I heard the junta is cracking down on dissenters.
• The group of powerful executives formed a business junta to make important decisions.

noun A place where people are forced to work, often under harsh conditions

• The government established a labor camp for prisoners to work on infrastructure projects.
• My great-grandfather was sent to a labor camp during the war.
• They're shipping him off to some labor camp in the middle of nowhere.
• Being stuck in that dead-end job felt like being in a labor camp.

adjective relating to or characteristic of a system of government or control in which one person has all the power

• The monocratic leadership style of the CEO has been met with mixed reactions from the board members.
• I don't like how monocratic the new manager is - he never listens to anyone else's ideas.
• The teacher's monocratic attitude is really getting on my nerves.
• The monocratic rule of the dictator stifled any form of dissent or opposition.

noun Another noun entry for 'agency', which is an organization or department with a specific purpose or function.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun. In this case, 'secret' is an adjective that describes the type of police, indicating that they operate in secrecy.

• The secret police were responsible for monitoring and suppressing dissent within the country.
• I heard the secret police are cracking down on protesters in the city.
• Watch out, the secret police might come knocking on your door if you speak out against the government.
• Her anxiety felt like being constantly surveilled by a secret police force.

adjective relating to a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state

• The country was under a totalitarian regime, where the government had complete control over all aspects of society.
• Living in a totalitarian state means having very limited personal freedom.
• That leader is like a totalitarian dictator, always trying to control everything.
• The company's CEO ran the organization in a totalitarian manner, leaving no room for dissent or creativity.

noun a system of government that is run by a small, elite group of people who are pathological or mentally unstable

• A pathocracy is a system of government where the power is held by a small, elite group of people who rule in their own self-interest.
• In a pathocracy, the rulers only care about their own wealth and power, not the well-being of the people.
• The pathocracy is just a bunch of greedy, power-hungry individuals looking out for themselves.
• The pathocracy is like a dark cloud looming over the country, casting a shadow on the hopes of the citizens.