1
as in arbitrary
exercising power or authority without interference by others
a nation ruled by a series of despotic rulers, each seemingly worse than the last
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
the despotic coach demands that his players obey him without question
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of despotic
Eventually Noa does find his family — when he and Mae are captured and taken to a kingdom ruled by the despotic Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand).
—
Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024
My father came from Iraq, where occupation, American meddling and despotic leadership were the norm in his lifetime.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
The point of helping Ukraine defend itself against its despotic foe — like the point of defending Israel, or Taiwan, or NATO members rich or poor — isn’t altruism.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024
That includes efforts to undermine democracy by anyone with designs on despotic rule.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despotic 
Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024
My father came from Iraq, where occupation, American meddling and despotic leadership were the norm in his lifetime.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
The point of helping Ukraine defend itself against its despotic foe — like the point of defending Israel, or Taiwan, or NATO members rich or poor — isn’t altruism.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024
That includes efforts to undermine democracy by anyone with designs on despotic rule.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despotic
Adjective
-
Along with the combination of music and video programming, Plex has also carved out a niche for consumers who maintain their own personal libraries but don’t want to surrender them in the more arbitrary streaming era.Dade Hayes, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
-
Examples include the awarding of government contracts without open bidding, arbitrary tax breaks, and the issuance of government licenses or mining concessions to friends.Michael Posner, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Expect plenty of hot takes, including a barrage of think pieces, seeing as, in this telling, the Wizard is an authoritarian leader using scapegoating to prey on — and stoke — people’s fears.Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
-
Yet, according to a February study by the Pew Research Center, 32% of Americans believe a military regime or an authoritarian leader would be a better way of governing the country.Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
By that logic, the Union is the oppressive force, and her movement is the real resistance.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
-
Debuting in 2014, Watch Dogs is an action-adventure game immersing players in the world of skilled hackers who use technology to combat oppressive forces controlling major cities across the world.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2024
Adjective
-
Kenneth Kimes Troubled childhood: As a young man, Kimes went on a deadly crime spree with his domineering mother.Daniel Wine, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
-
Trump had a domineering, workaholic father who split the world into two groups: killers and losers.Alex Thompson, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Nobody wants to be around an arrogant or disrespectful individual, in the workplace or in day-to-day life.AllBusiness, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
-
So Far Trump in fact as played by Stan is a mix of charming and shy, troubled and insecure, arrogant and angry, a creative dealmaker with vision, narcissitic, cruel, self-serving, at times grief stricken.Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
The rise of autocratic regimes across the world over the last decade and a half has put democrats on high alert.Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
-
By Michael Schuman The revelation that North Korean troops have been gathering in Russia, ostensibly to assist President Vladimir Putin in his brutal invasion of Ukraine, has stoked Western fears of autocratic states banding together to undermine the interests of democracies.Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The actor, 28, plays Lucius in director Ridley Scott's sequel to 2000's Gladiator, picking up the story in a tyrannical Rome 16 years after Maximus (Russell Crowe) defeated the maniacal Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
-
Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.Veronica Flores, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Fascism is a populist political movement which advocates putting the nation first through a centralized, autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader who controls the economy and suppresses opposition.Nina turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
-
Applying his dictatorial power, Kuhn banned me from the locker rooms.Melissa Ludtke, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near despotic
Cite this Entry
“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despotic. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share