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Autocracy vs Authoritarian - What's the difference?

autocracy | authoritarian |

As nouns the difference between autocracy and authoritarian

is that autocracy is a form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual while authoritarian is one who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.

As an adjective authoritarian is

of, or relating to, absolute obedience to an authority.

autocracy

English

(wikipedia autocracy)

Noun

(autocracies)
  • A form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual.

    • Synonyms

    * bigmanism * despotism * dictatorship * monarchy * tyranny

    Related terms

    * autocrat * autocratic * autocratically

    Hypernyms

    * totalitarianism

    authoritarian

    English

    (wikipedia authoritarian)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of, or relating to, absolute obedience to an authority.
  • Characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority; dictatorial.
    • The authoritarian government was demanding stricter laws for low-wage peasants.
  • Tending to impose one's demands upon others as if one was an authority.

    • Synonyms

    * (sense, tending to impose one's demands) commanding, imperious * (characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority) illiberal, oppressive * See also

    Antonyms

    * (characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority) liberal

    Derived terms

    * authoritarianism * antiauthoritarian

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.
    • The dictator was an authoritarian .
  • One who follows and is excessively obedient to authority.
  • * 2006', Robert Altemeyer, ''The '''Authoritarians