autocrat

/ˈɔːtəkræt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɔtəkrˌæt] /ˈɔːtəkræt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈɔtəkrˌæt] /ˈȯ-tə-ˌkrat How to pronounce autocrat (audio)/ (ame, mw)

autocrat — noun

1. a person, especially a ruler, who keeps all power in their own hands and expects

1.名詞C1
釋義

a person, especially a ruler, who keeps all power in their own hands and expects everyone else to obey without argument.

例句

After canceling the election, the general ruled as an autocrat and jailed rival ministers.

pattern: rule as an autocrat

At the staff meeting, Lara called the director an autocrat who ignored every objection.

figurative use in an organization

同義詞
  • dictator

    the more common news word for a one-person ruler

  • tyrant

    adds a stronger idea of cruelty and abuse

  • despot

    is more literary and often sounds more openly condemning

  • strongman

    is common in journalism for a forceful ruler, especially one backed by the army or security forces

反義詞
  • democrat

    a person who supports shared political power and elections

  • constitutional ruler

    a ruler whose authority is limited by law

  • elected leader

    stresses power gained and kept through voting rather than unchecked personal rule

文法句型

become an autocrat

rule as an autocrat

under an autocrat

用法筆記

Usually refers to a political ruler with unchecked power. It can also be used figuratively for a boss or leader inside a group, but that use is still strong and suggests they reject discussion.

常見錯誤

❌Our class monitor is an autocrat because she chooses the music.
✅Our class monitor is bossy.
💡autocrat is a very strong word; use it for rulers or for someone with unusually unchecked control, not a small everyday disagreement.
❌The country lived under an autocrat.
✅The country lived under an autocracy.' / 'The country was ruled by an autocrat.
💡autocrat is the person, while autocracy is the system.