dictator
noun
dic·ta·tor
ˈdik-ˌtā-tər 
dik-ˈtā-
1
a
: a person granted absolute emergency power
b
: one holding complete autocratic control : a person with unlimited governmental power
c
: one ruling in an absolute (see absolute sense 2) and often oppressive way
fascist dictators
2
: one who says or reads something for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record : one that dictates (see dictate entry 1 sense 1)
Examples of dictator in a Sentence
The country was ruled by a military dictator.
the dictator had a fierce stranglehold on the country, keeping its people in poverty and ignorance
Recent Examples on the Web
His conduct also invites comparisons to Vladimir Putin, his favorite foreign dictator, who has banned or tamed almost all independent media in Russia.
—
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025
Take the quiz here … IF THE SHOE FITS – Meghan Markle's persona as 'dictator in high heels' following royal snub.
—Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025
More proximately, Putin has supported the Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko for decades, helping his autocratic partner hang onto power despite mass demonstrations following a fraudulent election in 2020.
—Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
So often, dictators start presenting fine ideas only to end up creating national destruction.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictator
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Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025
Take the quiz here … IF THE SHOE FITS – Meghan Markle's persona as 'dictator in high heels' following royal snub.
—Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025
More proximately, Putin has supported the Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko for decades, helping his autocratic partner hang onto power despite mass demonstrations following a fraudulent election in 2020.
—Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
So often, dictators start presenting fine ideas only to end up creating national destruction.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictator
Cite this Entry
“Dictator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictator. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dictator
noun
dic·ta·tor
ˈdik-ˌtāt-ər
dik-ˈtāt-ər
1
: a person who rules with total authority and often in a cruel or brutal manner
2
: one that dictates
dictatorial
adjective
ˌdik-tə-ˈtōr-ē-əl
-tȯr-
dictatorially
adverb
-ē-ə-lē
dictatorialness
noun
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