dictator
gb/dɪktˈeɪtɚ/ us/dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
B1
Inglês
~ 8100
Aceções
0 aceções
Nome
B1
entity
1
ruler with absolute political power
A leader of a country who has all the power and does not allow people to vote freely or oppose them.
Erro comum:
Learners often confuse "dictator" (the person) with "dictatorship" (the political system). Use "dictator" when talking about an individual leader (e.g., "The dictator was removed"), and "dictatorship" for the type of government (e.g., "They lived under a dictatorship"). Another mistake is using "dictator" for any strict leader; in politics it usually implies lack of real elections and serious repression.
Sinónimos
autocrat (Stresses one person holding all power, often slightly more formal and technical than "dictator".)
|
tyrant (Emphasizes cruelty and injustice, with a strong negative emotional tone.)
|
strongman (Informal term focusing on personal power and control, sometimes used where elections exist but are unfair.)
Antónimos
democrat (Suggests a leader who supports rule by the people and free elections, the opposite of a dictator’s one-person rule.)
|
elected leader (Highlights that power comes from fair, competitive elections rather than force or fear.)
Colocações
brutal dictator
|military dictator
|authoritarian dictator
|oust a dictator
|overthrow the dictator
|dictator for life
Temas
politics
|history
|conflict
|law
Exemplos
- The country was ruled by a brutal dictator for more than forty years.
- Protesters filled the streets, demanding that the dictator step down.
- After the dictator was overthrown, the new government promised free and fair elections.
- Many people fled the region to escape the dictator's secret police.
- International leaders called on the dictator to release political prisoners.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The dictator did not allow anyone to speak against him.
- People were afraid of the dictator and his army.
- The dictator stayed in power until he died.
- The citizens hoped the dictator would leave the country.
- Other nations criticized the dictator for his actions.
Nome
informal
B2
entity
2
over-controlling or bossy person
Someone who always tells other people what to do and does not let them choose for themselves.
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use this meaning in serious political contexts, where it can sound too light or emotional. In everyday talk, calling someone a "dictator" is usually exaggeration or criticism, not a literal political description. In formal writing, prefer words like "authoritarian" or "over-controlling" for behavior.
Sinónimos
control freak (Informal and often humorous; stresses a strong need to control every detail.)
|
bully (Focuses more on hurting or frightening others rather than just controlling them.)
|
taskmaster (Suggests someone who makes people work very hard; can be negative but sometimes admiring.)
Antónimos
easygoing person (Describes someone relaxed who does not try to control others.)
|
team player (Suggests someone who shares decisions and power instead of controlling everything alone.)
Colocações
act like a dictator
|a little dictator
|office dictator
|a real dictator
|a bit of a dictator
Temas
personality
|work
|family
|relationships
Exemplos
- Our new manager is a complete dictator and checks every tiny detail of our work.
- He turns into a little dictator whenever we plan a trip, insisting that everything be done his way.
- You don't have to be such a dictator about the schedule; we can be flexible.
- At home he's a bit of a dictator, telling everyone exactly when and what they should eat.
- The coach was respected, but some players felt he was a dictator on and off the field.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- My boss is a dictator and does not listen to us.
- She is a real dictator when we play games.
- Please don’t be a dictator; let other people speak.
- He acts like a dictator in group projects.
- Nobody likes working with a dictator in the office.
Nome
technical
C1
entity
3
emergency ruler in ancient Rome
In ancient Rome, a special leader chosen in an emergency who had complete power for a short time.
Erro comum:
Learners may think this historical role was exactly the same as a modern dictator. While both have very high power, the Roman dictator was a legal, temporary office created by the Roman constitution, not always a cruel or illegal ruler.
Sinónimos
Roman magistrate (General term; only refers to this sense when the specific office of dictator is meant.)
Antónimos
consul (One of the two ordinary elected heads of the Roman Republic, whose powers were limited and shared, unlike those of a dictator.)
Colocações
Roman dictator
|appoint a dictator
|emergency dictator
|dictator of the Roman Republic
Temas
history
|politics
|law
Exemplos
- In times of war, the Roman Senate could appoint a dictator with sweeping powers.
- Cincinnatus is often cited as the model Roman dictator who willingly gave up power.
- Under the Roman Republic, a dictator was supposed to rule only until the crisis had passed.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- In ancient Rome, a dictator had full power for a short time.
- The Roman Senate chose a dictator during the war.
- A Roman dictator was expected to give back power after the danger ended.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
dictator
IPA
GB/dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
US/dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
Sílabas e acento
dic - tat - or (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tat)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: dictator
- Plural: dictators
Família de palavras
Forms
dictators
noun
Core family
dictatorship
noun B2
dictate
verb C1
Related words
dictatorial
adjective
dictation
noun
Negative and opposite forms
democracy
noun B1
democratic
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
Expressões
brutal dictator
1/bɹˈutəl dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
extremely cruel dictator
A dictator who hurts and kills many people to stay in power.
Exemplos
- The film tells the story of life under a brutal dictator.
- Hundreds of people were jailed by the brutal dictator's secret police.
- History books describe him as one of the most brutal dictators of the twentieth century.
dictator for life
1/dɪktˈeɪtɚ fɚ lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
dictator with lifelong rule
A dictator who plans to stay in power until they die, with no end date.
Exemplos
- After changing the constitution, he effectively became dictator for life.
- Critics warned that the move would turn the president into a dictator for life.
- By removing term limits, the leader was seen as declaring himself dictator for life.
like a dictator
1/lˈaɪk ə dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
in an over-controlling manner
In a way that is very strict and controlling, similar to how a dictator behaves.
Exemplos
- He runs the department like a dictator and makes every decision himself.
- You can't treat your friends like a dictator and expect them to stay.
- The coach acted like a dictator during training, shouting orders the whole time.
little dictator
1/lˈɪtəl dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
idiom
informal
petty bossy authority figure
Someone who has a small amount of power but acts like a strict dictator.
Exemplos
- The security guard turned into a little dictator as soon as he got his uniform.
- She complained that her team leader was a little dictator who never listened.
- Give him a title and he becomes a little dictator.
military dictator
1/mˈɪlɪtˌɛɹi dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
dictator supported by the army
A dictator who takes and holds power because the army supports them.
Exemplos
- The country has been ruled by a military dictator since the coup.
- Several military dictators in the region were eventually forced to hold elections.
- The new constitution was written after the fall of the last military dictator.
tin-pot dictator
1/tˈɪn pˈɑt dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
idiom
informal
petty or laughable dictator
A very negative way to talk about a dictator who seems small, weak, or not serious, or about someone who acts like a silly dictator.
Exemplos
- He dismissed the leader as just another tin-pot dictator.
- Nobody wants to be pushed around by a tin-pot dictator in a shabby uniform.
- The article compared the company’s CEO to a tin-pot dictator who enjoyed firing people.
benevolent dictator
1/bənˈɛvələnt dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
kind but autocratic ruler
A ruler who has complete power but uses it in a kind way to help people, not to hurt them.
Exemplos
- Some people argue that a benevolent dictator could make decisions faster than a democracy.
- The founder ran the company like a benevolent dictator, making all the choices but paying workers very well.
- The novel explores whether a benevolent dictator can stay benevolent as power grows.
benevolent dictator
2/bənˈɛvələnt dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
apparently kind, helpful dictator
A leader who has complete power like a dictator but is seen as kind and trying to help the people.
Exemplos
- Some supporters described the ruler as a benevolent dictator who modernized the country.
- In tech communities, a project may have a so-called benevolent dictator who makes final decisions.
- The idea of a benevolent dictator is attractive to some but dangerous if that power is abused.