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Authoritarian vs Dictatorship - What's the difference?

authoritarian | dictatorship |

As nouns the difference between authoritarian and dictatorship

is that authoritarian is one who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority while dictatorship is a type of government where absolute sovereignty is allotted to an individual or a small clique.

As an adjective authoritarian

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

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

    • dictatorship

    English

    (wikipedia dictatorship)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A type of government where absolute sovereignty is allotted to an individual or a small clique.
  • A government which exercises autocratic rule.

    • Derived terms

    * dictatorship of the majority

    Synonyms

    *autocracy