autocratic

US /ˌɔtəˈkrætɪk/ UK /ˌɔːtəˈkrætɪk/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
ruling with absolute power; domineering

His autocratic manner left subordinates no room to question orders.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · ruling with absolute power;... dictatorial despotic tyrannical authoritarian domineering imperious absolutehigh-handed

Opposites

democratic egalitarian permissive lenient liberal

Word family

Derived forms autocratically

Related forms autocratautocracy

Etymology

From autocrat + -ic, from Ancient Greek autokrates ('ruling by oneself'), from autos ('self') + kratos ('power, rule').

autokrates Ancient Greek autos Ancient Greek kratos Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# autocratic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌɔtəˈkrætɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɔːtəˈkrætɪk/

## Meanings
1. ruling with absolute power; domineering

## Examples
- His autocratic manner left subordinates no room to question orders.

## Synonyms
- dictatorial
- despotic
- tyrannical
- authoritarian
- domineering
- imperious
- absolute
- high-handed

## Antonyms
- democratic
- egalitarian
- permissive
- lenient
- liberal

## Derived Forms
- autocratically

## Related Forms
- autocrat
- autocracy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: autokrates
- Root: autos
- Root: kratos

## Etymology
From autocrat + -ic, from Ancient Greek autokrates ('ruling by oneself'), from autos ('self') + kratos ('power, rule').

## AI Etymology
Autocratic is an adjective meaning "ruling with absolute power; domineering". Historically, it is from autocrat + -ic, from Ancient Greek autokrates ('ruling by oneself'), from autos ('self') + kratos ('power, rule'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: autocratic is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The modern meaning, "ruling with absolute power; domineering", follows the base word through the added English ending. The historical chain links Ancient Greek autokrates, Ancient Greek autos, and Ancient Greek kratos. Close English family members include autocratically, autocrat, and autocracy.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown