Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of authoritarian

5 similar words · 5 opposite words

Another word for authoritarian is bossy. Other synonyms of authoritarian are commanding, arrogant, haughty and imperious. The opposite of authoritarian is liberal.

Synonyms and similar words for authoritarian

adjectiveDemanding obedience to authority; marked by authoritarianism; dictatorial, tyrannical.

  • bossyTending to give orders to others, especially when unwarranted; domineering.

adjectiveTending to impose one's demands upon others as if one were an authority.

  • arrogantHaving excessive pride in oneself, often with contempt or disrespect for others.
  • commandingTending to give commands, authoritarian.
  • haughtyConveying in demeanour the assumption of superiority; disdainful, supercilious.
  • imperiousDomineering, arrogant, or overbearing.

Opposite of authoritarian

adjectiveAntonym(s) of “characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority”.

adjectiveAntonym(s) of “tending to impose one's demands”.

  • servileSlavish or submissive.
  • humble
  • modestNot bragging or boasting about oneself or one's achievements; unpretentious, humble.

Meaning of authoritarian

  1. adjective Of, or relating to, or exhibiting strict obedience to an authority; favoring authoritarianism over civic and individual liberties.
  2. adjective Demanding obedience to authority; marked by authoritarianism; dictatorial, tyrannical.
  3. adjective Tending to impose one's demands upon others as if one were an authority.

Full definition of authoritarian

authoritarian in other languages

Questions about synonyms of authoritarian

What is another word for authoritarian?
Authoritarian has 5 synonyms on Word.ws, such as bossy, commanding, arrogant, haughty and imperious.
What is the opposite of authoritarian?
The opposite of authoritarian is liberal. Other antonyms of authoritarian are modest.
What does authoritarian mean?
Authoritarian means of, or relating to, or exhibiting strict obedience to an authority; favoring authoritarianism over civic and individual liberties.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: authoritarian (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of authoritarian.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/authoritarian. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.