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totalism

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

IPA: /ˈtoʊtəlɪzəm/

KK: /ˈtoʊtəlɪzəm/

noun
Definition

A belief system or doctrine that emphasizes the importance of a complete and unified whole, often associated with extreme control or manipulation of individuals' thoughts and behaviors.


Example

The concept of totalism can be seen in certain political regimes that seek to control every aspect of life.


Conversation
Sloth A
Have you ever read about totalism in psychology?
Sloth B
Yeah, it's a bit scary how some groups can manipulate people's thoughts.
Sloth A
Right? It makes you think about how important critical thinking is.
Sloth B
Absolutely! Staying aware helps us avoid falling into that trap.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
absolutism
monism
unification
Antonyms
pluralism
diversity
fragmentation
Root Explanation

Totalism → It is formed from "total" (from Latin "totalis", meaning whole or complete) and "-ism" (a suffix used to denote a practice or philosophy). The word "totalism" refers to a political system or philosophy that emphasizes total control or complete authority over aspects of life.

Memory Tip

Think of 'total' meaning whole or complete, and remember that 'totalism' refers to a system that seeks complete control.

Visually Confused Words
teetotalism
mortalism
crotalism
atonalism
ortalis
oralism
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