robber baron

noun

: an American capitalist of the latter part of the 19th century who became wealthy through exploitation (as of natural resources, governmental influence, or low wage scales)

: a business owner or executive who acquires wealth through ethically questionable tactics

Examples of robber baron in a Sentence

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Authenticity was hot, hot, hot: the Rothschilds who hired Samson had been satisfied with shiny new furniture in the style of the eighteenth century, but the robber barons adding to Asher’s fortune wanted to pad their pedigrees with originals. —

Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024 The western elements of 1923 sit side by side with stories about politicians and robber barons. —

Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024 Things could change: the robber barons of the Gilded Age were eventually brought down; twentieth-century industrial tyrants were, over time, shamed into retreat. —

Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 Stewart called Goldstein a robber baron while forgetting the show was live. —

Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for robber baron