as in tyrant
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
the dictator had a fierce stranglehold on the country, keeping its people in poverty and ignorance
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Recent Examples of dictator
The rolling back of those sanctions caused some confusion for Israel, which has attacked Syria hundreds of times since the fall of its former dictator, Bashar al-Assad.
—
Obed Manuel, NPR, 15 May 2025
When the dictator was ousted, the economy was in tatters.
—Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 15 May 2025
Syrian rebels overthrew dictator Bashar al Assad in December.
—Tom Perry, USA Today, 15 May 2025
Libya has been embroiled in a political conflict since long-time dictator Moammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, leading to the emergence of several armed groups.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictator
Obed Manuel, NPR, 15 May 2025
When the dictator was ousted, the economy was in tatters.
—Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 15 May 2025
Syrian rebels overthrew dictator Bashar al Assad in December.
—Tom Perry, USA Today, 15 May 2025
Libya has been embroiled in a political conflict since long-time dictator Moammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, leading to the emergence of several armed groups.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictator
tyrant
Noun
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The Russian tyrant has now cost his country hundreds of thousands of lives and huge portions of its military capability.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
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Never mind that the Dodgers have been a rip-roaring success on the Golden Coast and that O’Malley was forced into a corner by a New York City tyrant named Robert Moses.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictator. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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