dictatorship
autocracy / tyranny / absolute rule / totalitarianism
Noun
pl: dictatorships
This term carries a heavy negative connotation, evoking images of oppression, censorship, and the suspension of civil liberties. It describes a power structure where authority is centralized and unquestionable, often maintained through force or intimidation rather than consent. In a non-political sense, the word is used hyperbolically to describe any environment, such as a workplace or a household, where one individual dominates others with an iron will and allows no input from subordinates.
Meanings
Noun
A form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limits.
"The country suffered under a brutal military dictatorship for two decades."