Orwellian

[ awr-wel-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or resembling the literary work of George Orwell or the totalitarian future described in his antiutopian novel 1984 (1949).

Word History and Origins

Origin of Orwellian¹

1945–50; after G. Orwell ( def ) + -ian

Example Sentences

In the same speech where DeSantis derided “Orwellian” tactics around voting rights during last week’s State of the State address, he announced this new law enforcement unit that would have the “sole focus” of enforcing election law.

From Essence.com

Despite prominent voices on the right giving vaccine mandates labels such as “Orwellian,” they are actually pretty popular among the American public.

From FiveThirtyEight

The ghost of George Orwell may be conjured too readily and too often, these days, but this truly is Orwellian.

From The Daily Beast

Orwellian, Malthusian, barbarous, depraved…I think you get me.

From The Daily Beast

There has been an almost Orwellian artfulness in the way need-blind admissions policies are sold.

From The Daily Beast

But while another bureaucracy may not be the answer (even the name sounds Orwellian), oversight is clearly needed.

From The Daily Beast

Venezuelans are accustomed to their government using Orwellian language.

From The Daily Beast

No one called them “attractions” anymore—all that old Orwellian Disneyspeak had been abolished.

From Project Gutenberg