dictator
2 synonyms for dictator, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A leader who rules a country with total power and does not allow any opposition.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Comes from Latin dictātor ("a chief magistrate"), from dictō ("dictate, prescribe"), from dīcō ("say, speak"). By surface analysis, it is formed from dictate + -or, literally "one who dictates"; compare Old English tictator ("absolute ruler of the Roman Republic").
Full origin of dictator →