as in tyranny
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
having just thrown off the yoke of Great Britain, the American Founding Fathers were adamantly opposed to establishing some form of homegrown autarchy
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Recent Examples of autarchy
But that’s the point: These people don’t live in an autarchy.
—
David Marchesephotograph By Christopher Anderson/magnum, For The New York Times, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2022
But Russia’s economy is far too small to be an autarchy.
—Robert Zubrin, National Review, 10 May 2021
David Marchesephotograph By Christopher Anderson/magnum, For The New York Times, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2022
But Russia’s economy is far too small to be an autarchy.
—Robert Zubrin, National Review, 10 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autarchy
Noun
-
Religious freedom and freedom of speech make up the engine of self-government and form a bulwark against tyranny.—
Kristen Waggoner,
National Review,
5 July 2025
-
Determined to liberate Panem, Katniss and her fellow rebels embark on a dangerous journey into the heart of the Capitol to save the nation from President Snow’s tyranny once and for all.—
Kelly Martinez Published,
EW.com,
5 July 2025
Noun
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During the dictatorship, blackouts were used to control people.—
Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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But if Trump’s Iran gamble turns out well and Iran’s theocratic dictatorship either crumbles or gives up its uranium enrichment program through diplomatic negotiations — a big if — Trump will be credited with having done something four previous presidents contemplated but ultimately failed to do.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2025
Noun
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Like many other industrialized nations, Japan in the 1930s turned to fascism and the construction of autarkic economic empires as a solution to the instabilities engendered by capitalist modernity.—
Waiyee Loh,
JSTOR Daily,
2 July 2025
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Amid the coming-out balls, proposals and a whopper of a divorce scandal, a more insidious theme emerged: the rise of fascism in Europe, and two of the sisters’ infatuation with it.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
24 June 2025
Noun
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Michael Douglas spoke out against the risks of autocracy in the U.S. and touted the benefits of democracy during a press conference at the 59th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in the Czech Republic on Saturday.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
5 July 2025
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While this is a global phenomenon, our American political version is especially theatrical, featuring a President who is tipping democracy toward autocracy, a functioning economy toward recession and a diverse society toward culture war.—
Ginny Whitelaw,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autarchy. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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