totalitarian
1 synonym and 1 antonym for totalitarian, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Describing a system of government in which the state has total control over public and private life, and opposition is not tolerated.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use totalitarian
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
totalitarian regime
totalitarian state
totalitarian control
Etymology
From Italian totalitario, "complete, absolute," combined with the suffix -an.
Full origin of totalitarian →Frequently asked questions
What does “totalitarian” mean?
The word “totalitarian” means describing a system of government in which the state has total control over public and private life, and opposition is not tolerated. In plain terms, describes a government that controls almost every part of people's lives and crushes dissent.
How do you pronounce “totalitarian”?
“Totalitarian” is pronounced tohta-lih-TEH-uh-ree-uhn (/ˌtoʊtəlɪˈtɛɹiən/ in IPA).
How do you use “totalitarian” in a sentence?
Here is “totalitarian” used in a sentence: “Historians study how totalitarian regimes rose to power in the 20th century.”
What part of speech is “totalitarian”?
Depending on how it is used, “totalitarian” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “totalitarian” come from?
The word “totalitarian” comes from Italian. From Italian totalitario, "complete, absolute," combined with the suffix -an.
Is “totalitarian” a common word?
“Totalitarian” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “totalitarian” have?
“Totalitarian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: describing a system of government in which the state has total control over public and private life, and opposition is not tolerated.
