Authoritarian Regimes Glossary

noun The Gestapo was the secret police of Nazi Germany, known for its brutal tactics and suppression of dissent.

• The Gestapo was the secret police of Nazi Germany during World War II.
• My grandfather told me stories about how people lived in fear of the Gestapo.
• The Gestapo were like the boogeymen of that time, always watching and ready to pounce.
• The strict new manager runs the office like a Gestapo, monitoring everyone's every move.

noun a person or group that oppresses or treats others unfairly, especially through the abuse of power

• The oppressor's regime was overthrown by the revolutionaries.
• Don't let the oppressor control your life.
• The oppressor is such a bully.
• Fear is the oppressor that holds us back from reaching our full potential.

noun A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'police state' is a noun phrase that refers to a government system in which the police have extensive power and control over the population.

• The country's transition into a police state was met with international concern.
• People are worried that our government is turning into a police state.
• I heard this new law is going to make us all feel like we're living in a police state.
• The strict rules at the office make it feel like a police state sometimes.