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Utilitarian vs Authoritarian - What's the difference?

utilitarian | authoritarian |

As adjectives the difference between utilitarian and authoritarian

is that utilitarian is of or relating to utility while authoritarian is of, or relating to, absolute obedience to an authority.

As nouns the difference between utilitarian and authoritarian

is that utilitarian is someone who practices or advocates utilitarianism while authoritarian is one who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.

utilitarian

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • of or relating to utility
  • practical and functional, not just for show.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • Someone who practices or advocates utilitarianism.

    • Derived terms

    * utilitarianism * futilitarianism * utilitarianly

    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