dictator

Meaning

1. A totalitarian leader of a country, nation, or government.
2. A magistrate without colleague in republican Ancient Rome, who held full executive authority for a term granted by the Senate, typically to conduct a war.
3. A tyrannical boss or authority figure.
4. (alt-of, misspelling) Misspelling of dictater.

Synonyms

tyrant

despot

absolute ruler

autocrat

oppressor

potentate

ruler

authoritarian

king

👑

administrator

chief

leader

head

commandant

captain

skipper

commander

mogul

overlord

personage

boss

bandit

sachem

strongman

terrorist

totalitarian

autocracy

warlord

Shah

bad ruler

commander in chief

czar

destroyer

emperor

hijacker

magnate

Translations

dictateur

Diktator

dictador

dittatore

dictator

ditador

δικτάτορας

dictator

dictador

diktatör

Gewaltherrscher

tirano

autocrate

tyran

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɪkˈteɪtə/

Etymology

From Latin dictātor (“a chief magistrate”), from dictō (“dictate, prescribe”), from dīcō (“say, speak”). By surface analysis, dictate + -or, literally “one who dictates”. Compare Old English tictator (“absolute ruler of the Roman Republic”).