dictatorial

/ˌdɪktəˈtɔːriəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdɪktəˈtɔːriəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌdik-tə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl/ (ame, mw)

dictatorial — adjective

  • dictatorialpositive
  • more dictatorialcomparative
  • most dictatorialsuperlative

1. behaving like someone who expects others to obey without question, often shoutin

1.形容詞C1
釋義

behaving like someone who expects others to obey without question, often shouting orders and refusing to listen to opinions or feelings.

例句

Talia complained that her new boss had a dictatorial manner during every team meeting.

common collocation: dictatorial manner / tone / style

The coach was so dictatorial that the players stopped offering ideas at practice.

predicative use: be dictatorial — followed by a consequence clause

同義詞
  • domineering

    very close in meaning; emphasises imposing one's will on others

  • bossy

    informal; often used of children or peers, less harsh

  • overbearing

    stresses crushing other people's confidence or input

  • high-handed

    stresses ignoring others' rights or feelings rather than shouting

反義詞
  • easygoing

    relaxed about how things get done

  • democratic

    willing to listen to and include others' views

文法句型

dictatorial + noun (manner, tone, attitude)

be dictatorial (with/toward someone)

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person in a position of small-scale authority (boss, parent, coach, teacher); object is the behaviour or tone, not the political system. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes governments and rulers.

常見錯誤

❌The election was dictatorial because one party won every seat.
✅The election was undemocratic because one party won every seat.
💡'dictatorial' here would describe a person's bossy manner, not an election outcome.
❌My sister is dictator with her children.
✅My sister is dictatorial with her children.
💡the adjective is 'dictatorial', not the noun 'dictator'.

2. connected to a country, government, or system where one ruler holds total power

2.形容詞C1
釋義

connected to a country, government, or system where one ruler holds total power and citizens cannot vote them out.

例句

Andrei grew up under a dictatorial regime where independent newspapers were banned.

core collocation: dictatorial regime

The general slowly built up dictatorial powers after promising elections within a year.

common collocation: dictatorial powers (often pluralised)

同義詞
  • autocratic

    very close; emphasises one-person rule, slightly more formal in political writing

  • tyrannical

    stronger; implies cruel as well as absolute

  • totalitarian

    broader; the state controls every part of life, not just the political process

反義詞

文法句型

dictatorial + political noun (regime, power, rule, government)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense modifies political nouns (regime, government, rule, power), almost never a person's manner. If the noun is a political system, use this sense; if the noun is behaviour, tone, or attitude, use sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌My uncle has dictatorial powers at our family dinners.
✅My uncle is dictatorial at our family dinners.
💡'dictatorial powers' belongs to states or rulers, not family members; use the bossy-manner sense for personal contexts.