Leadership Styles

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.

adjective demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight

• The bellicose nation declared war on its neighboring country.
• He's always so bellicose whenever someone disagrees with him.
• Don't mess with him, he's a real bellicose dude.
• The storm clouds gathered overhead, looking bellicose and ready to unleash their fury.

verb to scold or criticize someone angrily

• The boss proceeded to berate the employee for not meeting the deadline.
• My mom will berate me if I forget to take out the trash again.
• I heard that teacher loves to berate students for no reason.
• The storm seemed to berate the coastline with its fierce winds and rain.

noun a person who talks boastfully or arrogantly

• He was known as a big talker in the business world, always making grand promises he couldn't keep.
• Don't listen to him, he's just a big talker who never follows through on anything.
• That guy is all bark and no bite, a total big talker.
• She may seem like a big talker, but deep down she's just trying to cover up her insecurities.

noun a system of government or politics characterized by the influence of bosses, especially in corrupt ways

• The prevalence of bossism in the workplace can create a toxic environment for employees.
• I can't stand the bossism in this office - it's like we're being micromanaged at every turn.
• The bossism here is out of control - it's like we're all walking on eggshells around the manager.
• The bossism in the political sphere stifles creativity and innovation, leading to a lack of progress.

noun a political activity or practice that seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument

• The politician's demagoguery was evident in his speeches, appealing to emotions rather than logic.
• I can't stand the demagoguery of that guy, always trying to manipulate people with his words.
• Don't fall for his demagoguery, he's just trying to stir up trouble.
• Her demagoguery was like a dark cloud looming over the political landscape.

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.

adjective describing someone who behaves in an autocratic or domineering manner

• The dictator's dictatorial regime oppressed its citizens.
• The boss's dictatorial behavior is making everyone uncomfortable.
• My teacher is so dictatorial, she never lets us have any fun in class.
• The strict dress code at the office felt almost dictatorial in nature.

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.

verb to assert one's will over others in an arrogant way

• The CEO was known to domineer over his employees, often micromanaging every aspect of their work.
• My older brother always tries to domineer over our family gatherings, insisting on controlling everything.
• Don't let him domineer the conversation, we all want a chance to speak.
• The storm clouds seemed to domineer over the horizon, signaling an impending downpour.

adjective Exerting influence or control in a bossy or arrogant manner

• The CEO's domineering behavior made it difficult for employees to voice their opinions.
• My domineering boss always wants things done her way.
• She's so domineering, always acting like she's the boss of everyone.
• The storm's domineering presence loomed over the small town, causing fear and chaos.

adjective relating to or characterized by egotism; self-centered

• His egotistic behavior often alienates those around him in professional settings.
• She's so egotistic, always talking about herself and never listening to others.
• That guy is such an egotistic jerk, always acting like he's better than everyone else.
• The egotistic cloud of arrogance followed him wherever he went, casting a shadow on his relationships.

adjective having or showing an exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceited

• His egotistical behavior made it difficult for others to work with him.
• She can be so egotistical sometimes, always talking about herself.
• That guy is so full of himself, he's seriously egotistical.
• His ego is as big as a mountain, he's truly egotistical.

noun a person who is strict or uncompromising in their attitudes or behavior

• The hardnose manager was known for her strict adherence to company policies.
• Don't mess with the hardnose teacher, she doesn't tolerate any nonsense.
• That hardnose cop gave me a ticket for parking in the wrong spot.
• His hardnose attitude towards negotiations often led to successful outcomes.

noun a person who is heavy handed in their approach or behavior

adjective describing someone who is overly forceful or harsh in their actions or manner

• The manager was criticized for his heavy-handed approach to discipline in the workplace.
• I don't like how heavy-handed the teacher is with giving out homework.
• The referee was being so heavy-handed with the fouls during the game.
• Her heavy-handed editing completely changed the tone of the article.

adjective using force or authority in an insensitive or harsh way

• The court criticized the prosecutor for his heavy-handed approach during the trial.
• The teacher was heavy-handed with the students who were misbehaving.
• The coach is a bit heavy-handed when it comes to training us.
• The company's heavy-handed tactics in negotiations left a bad impression on their business partners.

adjective showing arrogant superiority; overbearing

• The manager's high-handed approach to decision-making alienated many of his employees.
• She always acts so high-handed, like she's better than everyone else.
• Don't be so high-handed about it, just chill out and relax.
• His high-handed attitude towards criticism only served to isolate him from others.

adjective arrogantly domineering or overbearing

• The imperious tone of the CEO made it clear that his orders were not to be questioned.
• She has such an imperious attitude, always acting like she's better than everyone else.
• The bouncer gave me an imperious look and told me I couldn't come in without ID.
• The storm clouds gathered in an imperious manner, signaling the impending downpour.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

adverb a word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb

pronoun a word that takes the place of a noun

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

article a word that specifies a noun as definite or indefinite

• It is impossible for one person to know all the answers in a complex field like quantum physics.
• Hey, don't act like you know all the answers just because you read a few articles on the topic.
• She thinks she's the smartest person in the room and knows all the answers.
• Life is like a puzzle, and we may never know all the answers no matter how hard we try.

noun an economic system in which transactions between private parties are free from government intervention such as regulations, privileges, tariffs, and subsidies

• The government's laissez faire approach to regulating the economy has been criticized by some experts.
• The boss has a hands-off, laissez faire attitude when it comes to managing the team.
• I'm all about that laissez faire life - just let things happen on their own.
• Her laissez faire attitude towards relationships often leads to misunderstandings and conflicts.

verb to control or influence someone in a manipulative or domineering manner

preposition a small word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used with a noun to specify grammatical definiteness of the noun

• The CEO was accused of leading the employees by the nose, manipulating them to follow his every command.
• The teacher always leads the students by the nose, making sure they stay on track with their assignments.
• The coach leads the players by the nose, pushing them to give their all in every game.
• She refused to be led by the nose by her controlling ex-boyfriend, standing up for herself and ending the toxic relationship.

noun a person who has authority, control, or power over others

verb to behave in a domineering or superior manner towards others

• He tends to lord it over his subordinates in the office, often micromanaging their every move.
• She always tries to lord it over her friends by showing off her expensive possessions.
• Don't let him lord it over you like that, stand up for yourself!
• The wealthy elite continue to lord it over the working class, maintaining their power and influence.

adjective relating to or characteristic of the Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, especially in being cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous in politics.

• The politician's Machiavellian tactics were evident in his manipulation of public opinion.
• I don't trust him, he's always playing these Machiavellian games.
• She's so Machiavellian, always scheming behind everyone's back.
• The CEO's Machiavellian approach to business was like a chess master moving pieces on a board.

noun a person who demands absolute adherence to forms and rules

• The martinet military officer demanded strict adherence to the rules.
• The martinet boss always wants everything done his way.
• That martinet teacher is always on our case about homework.
• She was a martinet when it came to keeping her house clean.

noun a person who is independent in thought and action, often going against the norm or established practices

• The maverick entrepreneur started his own successful business without any outside help.
• That guy is a total maverick, always doing things his own way.
• She's a real maverick when it comes to fashion, always wearing the coolest clothes.
• The artist was a maverick in the way he approached his craft, constantly pushing boundaries and challenging norms.

noun a person who is pampered or overprotected

verb to treat someone with an excessive amount of care or attention

• It is not advisable to mollycoddle children as it may hinder their development.
• Stop mollycoddling him, he needs to learn to do things on his own.
• She's always mollycoddling her dog, treating him like a baby.
• The government should not mollycoddle industries that are failing, they need to adapt to survive.

noun a form of government in which a single person holds supreme authority

• The monarchy in England has a long history dating back centuries.
• Some people think the monarchy is outdated and unnecessary.
• I can't believe the monarchy still exists in this day and age.
• In a way, the CEO is like the monarch of the company, making all the important decisions.

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 a person who supervises and controls workers, especially through threats or harsh treatment

• The overseer on the plantation was known as a strict slave driver.
• My boss is a real slave driver, always pushing us to work harder.
• That supervisor is a total slave driver, making us work overtime every day.
• The relentless deadlines felt like they were being enforced by a slave driver.

verb to act in a subservient manner; to submit or yield to someone else's wishes or demands

• The politician refused to truckle to the demands of the special interest groups.
• I won't truckle to my boss just because he's in a bad mood.
• She's always truckling to the popular kids at school.
• It's important to stand up for what you believe in and not truckle to peer pressure.

noun a person who always agrees with their superiors or with people in authority, often to gain favor or advantage

• He was often criticized for surrounding himself with yes men who never challenged his decisions.
• I can't stand being around a yes man who agrees with everything I say.
• Don't be a yes man and just go along with whatever they tell you.
• Being a yes man may seem like the easy way out, but it's important to stand up for what you believe in.

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.

noun a political ideology associated with the beliefs and policies of Jeremy Corbyn, a British politician

• Corbynism is a political ideology based on the principles of socialism and anti-austerity measures.
• Some people really believe in Corbynism and think it's the way forward for the country.
• I'm not a fan of Corbynism, I prefer a more centrist approach to politics.
• The rise of Corbynism within the party signaled a shift towards more left-wing policies.

noun a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• One way to learn how to properly format a business report is by example.
• If you're not sure how to use this software, just watch me do it by example.
• Dude, just copy what I'm doing by example and you'll get the hang of it.
• Sometimes the best way to understand a complex concept is by example, rather than just reading about it.

noun a political approach that emphasizes the need for a strong central government led by a charismatic leader

• The rise of authoritarian populism in recent years has raised concerns about the erosion of democratic norms.
• Some people are drawn to authoritarian populism because they think it will bring about quick and easy solutions to complex problems.
• Authoritarian populism is just another way for those in power to control and manipulate the masses.
• The dark cloud of authoritarian populism looms over the country, threatening to overshadow the voices of the marginalized.

adjective describes a person who gains power and popularity by appealing to people's emotions and prejudices rather than by using rational arguments

• The politician's demagogic speech appealed to the fears and prejudices of the audience.
• I can't stand listening to that demagogic talk show host spewing nonsense.
• The candidate's demagogic tactics are really turning voters off.
• Her demagogic leadership style divided the team and caused tension among colleagues.

adjective having the quality of making something easier or more possible

• The facilitative role of the teacher in the classroom is crucial for student learning.
• Having a facilitative boss makes work so much easier.
• She's like a facilitative ninja, always helping us out when we need it.
• His facilitative approach to problem-solving is like a well-oiled machine.

adverb in a harsh or rough manner

• The professor spoke abrasively to the students during the lecture.
• She always talks abrasively when she's in a bad mood.
• He was being so abrasively rude to the waiter at the restaurant.
• Her words cut through the conversation abrasively, leaving a tense atmosphere.

adjective relating to or characterized by affiliation or association

• The affiliative behavior of the team members contributed to a positive work environment.
• She always has an affiliative attitude towards her classmates.
• The group chat is full of affiliative emojis and inside jokes.
• His affiliative nature was like a warm blanket on a cold day, comforting everyone around him.