favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom
example
The government's authoritarian regime has led to widespread protests as citizens demand more personal freedoms.
synonyms
autocraticdictatorialoppressive
word origin — The word 'authoritarian' comes from the Latin root 'auctoritas', which means 'authority' or 'influence'. It emerged in the English language in the mid-20th century.
TOEFL Vocabulary — Set 188
Set 188 of TOEFL Vocabulary covers 5 words: authoritarian, obstinate, phenomenal, clandestine, virtual. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
authoritarian · adjective/ˌɔθəˈrɪtɛriən/
favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom
The government's authoritarian regime has led to widespread protests as citizens demand more personal freedoms.
Synonyms: autocratic, dictatorial, oppressive
Origin: The word 'authoritarian' comes from the Latin root 'auctoritas', which means 'authority' or 'influence'. It emerged in the English language in the mid-20th century.
obstinate · adjective/ˈɑ:b.stɪ.nət/
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action despite attempts to persuade one to do so
Despite numerous discussions about the new policy, the manager remained obstinate in his decision to maintain the status quo.
Synonyms: stubborn, unyielding, inflexible
Origin: From Latin 'obstinatus', the past participle of 'obstinare', meaning 'to persist or be firm'.
phenomenal · adjective/fəˈnɑː.mɪ.nəl/
remarkable or exceptional
The artist's phenomenal talent was evident in his latest masterpiece, captivating everyone who saw it.
Synonyms: extraordinary, remarkable, exceptional
Origin: The word 'phenomenal' originates from the Greek word 'phainomenon,' meaning 'that which appears or is shown.' It is derived from 'phainein,' which means 'to show' or 'to appear.'
clandestine · adjective/klænˈdɛstə/
kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit
The organization was discovered to be operating a clandestine network for smuggling goods across the border.
Synonyms: secret, covert, surreptitious
Origin: from Latin 'clandestinus', meaning 'hidden or secret', which derives from 'clam', meaning 'secretly'.
virtual · adjective/ˈvɜr.tʃu.əl/
not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so
She attended a virtual meeting where everyone participated through video conferencing software.
Synonyms: digital, simulated, online
Origin: from Middle English 'virtuell', from Old French 'virtuel', from Latin 'virtualis', from 'virtus' meaning 'virtue, potency'