Thesaurus results for AUTOCRATS

autocrats

noun

plural of autocrat

as in rulers

one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority European autocrats once commonly believed that they had received the right to rule directly from God

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of autocrats The regional order rested on American security guarantees not only to Arab states but also, critically, to the autocrats who sat atop them. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Typically reserved for autocrats and crime bosses, sanctions can be devastating. — ABC News, 14 July 2026 Conquerors and autocrats may win the immediate battle by bullying their subjects into submission, but their empires inevitably crumble the moment their iron grip falters. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026 Trump has made clear his disdain for NATO, his affection for Putin, gushes over autocrats, and withholds military support for Ukraine. — Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026 Almost overnight, countries that had long outsourced their energy security to autocrats found their supplies cut, and their economies shaken. — Jennifer Granholm, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026 Even as long-reigning autocrats such as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are removed from power, the outlook for the global state of democracy remains highly uncertain. — Yana Gorokhovskaia, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2026 Trump’s attacks may have raised some doubts in China that Xi’s backing of autocrats is wise. — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026 These autocrats have watched and learned as Erdoğan has scapegoated various rival groups in his country, branding them shadowy forces unleashed by the American philanthropist George Soros. — Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocrats

Noun

Critics of Iran's clerical rulers hoped initially that Iran's government would collapse amid a bombing campaign that killed Iran's most senior military and religious officials, including its supreme leader.

— Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
During the Sengoku period, clan leader Isshin Ashina leads a successful rebellion against the rulers to secure Ashina’s independence.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of rulers

Noun

Where to see monarchs in Oklahoma City Monarchs are often drawn to parks and gardens where milkweed and native nectaring plants can be found.

— Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 29 Aug. 2026
Danish and Swedish monarchs had ruled over the Scandinavian nation for centuries, until 1905.

— Terje Solsvik, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of monarchs

Browse Nearby Words

autocratic

autocrats

autodidactic

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Autocrats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocrats. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of autocrats

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes