police state

NOUN

totalitarian rule

Synonyms

WEAK

brute force despotism rule of terror totalitarian government totalitarian regime totalitarianism

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.

Here, it justifies the creation of a dystopian, paranoid police state because it will make it easier to find someone’s lost dog.

From Slate • Feb. 8, 2026

AI standards were spelled out in a landmark document, officially implemented last month, that was drafted by cyberspace regulators, cybersecurity police, state labs and China’s leading AI companies, including Alibaba and DeepSeek.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

He’s also enlisted local police, state troopers and private security for the events.

From Salon • May 5, 2025

“This is not a police state, it’s a state that provides security,” Ulloa said.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 31, 2024

“It’s run like a police state, and it’s boring and clueless.”

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz