authoritarian
definition
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.