Authoritarian

Definitions

1. One who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.
2. One who follows and is excessively obedient to authority.

Equivalents

Examples

“The dictator was an authoritarian.”

“Trump may be a Schmittian by instinct and aspiration, but he’s a fair-weather Schmittian only. A true authoritarian, confronted by limits on his power, might have⟳ ripped through them in service of establishing his authority.”

“While his two predecessors had been authoritarians – they knew what they thought on the most contentious matters within Catholicism and imposed that view⟳ on the church regardless of dissenters – Francis preferred to work⟳ away patiently at building consensus and accommodating a variety of perspectives. To that end⟳, he breathed new life into the system of regular gatherings – or synods – of bishops in Rome to debate⟳ pressing matters.”

CEFR level