absolute power

NOUN

complete authority to act

Synonyms

WEAK

absolutism autarchy autocracy despotism dictatorship tyranny

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“He attained absolute power and lost sight of the goal,” said milk farmer Imre Barna, 32, standing in front of a stall selling “Make Hungary Great Again” T-shirts with Orbán’s picture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

This is the type of monarchy embodied by Prince Carlo’s Bourbon ancestor, that very same Louis XIV who ruled by divine right and sought absolute power.

From Slate • Nov. 4, 2024

Downs: I think power corrupts; and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2024

“The Boys” counters that if absolute power corrupts absolutely, then superpower corrupts superbly.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2024

The English historian Lord Acton famously said, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson