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Despotic vs Authoritarian - What's the difference?

despotic | authoritarian |

As adjectives the difference between despotic and authoritarian

is that despotic is of or pertaining to a despot or tyrant while authoritarian is of, or relating to, absolute obedience to an authority.

As a noun authoritarian is

one who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.

despotic

English

Alternative forms

* despotick

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to a despot or tyrant.
    • This despotic age of the empire ended in a revolt.
  • Acting or ruling as a despot, tyrannical.
    • The despotic king dissolved the parliament, and took personal control of the country.

    Synonyms

    * (acting or ruling as a despot) domineering, tyrannical

    Related terms

    * despot * despotate * despotical * despotically * despotism * despotist * despotize

    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