Dictatorial, magisterial, authoritarian, dogmatic, doctrinaire, oracular are comparable in the sense of imposing or having the manner or disposition of one who imposes his will or his opinions upon others.
Dictatorial implies the powers of a dictator, but it has acquired so strong an implication of the assumption of such power that it often stresses autocratic or high-handed methods and a domineering, overbearing temper.
Magisterial derives its chief implications from its reference to a magistrate or, more often, to a schoolmaster. It seldom implies an assumption of power, high-handedness, or a bad temper but does suggest excessive use or display of the powers or prerogatives associated with the offices of a magistrate or schoolmaster (as in controlling and disciplining or in enforcing the acceptance of one’s opinions).
Magisterial is applied also to opinions or ideas which are so deeply impressed on the mind, especially the popular mind, that they cannot easily be eradicated.
Authoritarian is used chiefly in reference to states or governments (for this use see TOTALITARIAN), to churches, to bodies, persons, or their policies or attitudes. It implies assumption of one’s own (or another’s) power to exact obedience or of the right to determine what others should believe or do; often it suggests an opposition to liberal or libertarian and sometimes to anarchic or anarchistic.
Dogmatic implies the attitude of an authoritative or authoritarian teacher or preacher and the laying down of principles or dogmas as true and beyond dispute.
Dogmatic may imply depreciatively an assertive and sometimes an arrogant attitude that discourages if it does not inhibit debate.
Doctrinaire usually implies a dogmatic disposition; it typically suggests an opposition to practical, for it emphasizes a disposition to be guided by one’s theories or the doctrines of one’s school of thought in teaching, in framing laws, or in policies or decisions, especially those affecting others.
Oracular, with its implied reference to an ancient oracle, suggests the possession of hidden knowledge and the manner of one who delivers his opinions or views in cryptic phrases or with pompous dogmatism.