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Glite Dictionary
czarism

czarism

9.6
A system where one ruler has all the power and often acts unfairly, like in old Russia
  • noun
  • /ˈzɑːrɪzəm/
  • US
translation icon : zarismo
  • The rise of czarism in 19th century Russia engendered widespread dissent and calls for reform.

Examples

  • During the period of czarism, the Russian people faced significant repression from their leaders.

  • A right-wing, nationalist Russia may find (or buy) a few sympathizers abroad, as Czarism did in its day, but not much more.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Were not the old movies about Russians heroically fighting czarism or Nazism covert communist propaganda?

    Academic text (1999)

  • The system of czarism in Russia often enforced strict control over the populace and limited political freedoms.

Synonyms

authoritarianism
vsczarism
11 8.7

A system where one person or small group has almost all political power

is tied to a particular royal monarchy period rather than general systems
despotism
vsczarism
  • Formal
7 9.6

A government where one person or group has all power and rules cruelly

is specific to a historical royal period and can be used figuratively
czarship
vsczarism
  • US
1 9.9

The rule of a czar

refers to the wider system or period often autocratic
czardom
vsczarism
  • US
9.9

The time when a czar rules a country, especially Russia

is the rule or system focusing on autocratic power rather than territory

Antonyms

democracy
782 1.6

A system of government where people choose leaders by free elections

How Authoritarian

totalitarianism
  • Formal
19 9.3
despotism
  • Formal
7 9.6
czarism
  • US
9.6
monarchy
66 3.9
democracy
782 1.6

Surface Forms

czarism singular
czarisms plural

Morphology

czarism = czar (transparent) = czar + ism

The suffix '-ism' denotes a system or ideology, clearly related to the rule of a czar.

Etymology

Czarism comes from czar, also spelled tsar, and that name comes from the Roman name Caesar, which meant 'emperor'. So czarism is rule by a czar, one powerful leader, and that's why we often use it for strong or unfair rule.