Did you know?
In his 1755 dictionary, Samuel Johnson said of despot, "this word is not in use, except as applied to some Dacian prince; as the despot of Servia." Indeed at that time, the word was mainly used to identify some very specific rulers or religious officials, and the title was an honorable one: it comes from a Greek word meaning "lord" or "master." That situation changed toward the end of the 18th century, perhaps because French Revolutionists, who were said to have been "very liberal in conferring this title," considered all sovereigns to be tyrannical. Eventually, despot came to be used primarily for any ruler who wielded absolute and often contemptuous and oppressive power.
Synonyms
Examples of despot in a Sentence
Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024
Both end with pitch-black gags that should serve as cautionary warnings for any aspiring despots.
—Donald Liebenson, Vulture, 14 June 2024
To let mystics into this realm leads to error, disorder, and insurrection—to government by fanatics, maniacs, and despots claiming divinity.
—Simon Critchley, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Of course, the supply chains underpinning renewable energy are not free of geopolitical complications, but the actual energy source is invariably local and immune to interference—after all, once a windmill or solar panel is in place, no foreign despot can shut down the wind or the sun.
—Alexander Gard-Murray, Foreign Affairs, 23 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for despot 
Articles Related to despot
Dictionary Entries Near despot
Cite this Entry
“Despot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despot. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
despot
noun
Share