as in tyrant
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
the despot exiled political dissidents to remote labor camps, where they were left to rot
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Recent Examples of despot
Overthrowing the local government, and becoming my town’s first girl-boss despot.
—
Erika Sjule, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024
Egalitarian despots: hierarchy steepness, reciprocity and the grooming-trade model in wild chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes
WIREs Cognitive Science.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2024
Bed-bound and suffering, the insecure and impulsive despot has paid a high price for recklessly flying Sunfyre into battle at Rook’s Rest during last week’s episode of House of the Dragon.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The Past 10 pieces of wisdom from Roman emperors
Even tyrants and despots offer wisdom worth heeding.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for despot 
Erika Sjule, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024
Egalitarian despots: hierarchy steepness, reciprocity and the grooming-trade model in wild chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes
WIREs Cognitive Science.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2024
Bed-bound and suffering, the insecure and impulsive despot has paid a high price for recklessly flying Sunfyre into battle at Rook’s Rest during last week’s episode of House of the Dragon.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The Past 10 pieces of wisdom from Roman emperors
Even tyrants and despots offer wisdom worth heeding.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for despot
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Cite this Entry
“Despot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despot. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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