autocratically
- adverb
- /ˌɔːtəˈkrætɪkli/
- In his role as the new principal, he led autocratically, implementing strict rules without asking for feedback.
Examples
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On October 29, authorities arrested Musallam al-Barak, a former member of parliament, on charges of insulting the ruler after he gave a speech at the "March of Dignity" demonstration, saying, "Your Highness, we will not allow you to govern autocratically."
Blog text (13) -
Bishops govern autocratically, accountable to no one else except the Pope.
Blog text (21) -
Now the unelected manager is carrying out, autocratically, the normal duties of the democracy he gutted.
Blog text (15) -
At first blush, you might think Mr. Harris was moving autocratically to sideline one of his critics.
Blog text (15) -
On the other hand, multinational corporations have become more autonomous than governments, while international finance looms autocratically over the real economy.
Academic text (1996) -
The Pope governs autocratically.
Blog text (21) -
This issue of team building in healthcare is a difficult one to implement because doctors and nurses have mostly functioned semi-autonomously and autocratically.
Academic text (2003) -
A generation ago, it was possible for principals to run schools autocratically and to suspend or expel students without much regard for procedural niceties.
Academic text (1998) -
Anxieties over any potential megalomaniacal designs on the part of a visiting officeholder should have been substantially assuaged by the fact that he could simply be ousted should he behave autocratically.
Academic text (2015) -
The dictator ruled the country autocratically, ignoring the citizens' needs and opinions.
Synonyms
In a very strict and harsh way to control people
In a strong controlling way that ignores other people's opinions
In a cruel, unfair way using strong control over others
To act without letting people vote or talk about important decisions
In a confident, commanding way that shows power
In a cruel way that ignores people's rights
Antonyms
How Autocratic
Surface Forms
Morphology
autocratically = autocratic (transparent) = autocrat + ic + ally
A straightforward adjective-to-adverb formation: 'autocratic' + '-ally' yields 'in an autocratic manner'.
Etymology
Autocratically comes from the Greek parts auto- meaning 'self' and -crat meaning 'rule', the same root you see in automatic and autonomy. Picture one person making all the decisions alone, like someone ruling by themselves. So, to act autocratically is to use absolute power and not listen to others' opinions.