as in tyranny
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
by the end of the 20th century many countries around the world had rejected despotism in favor of democracy
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Recent Examples of despotism
For decades, his despotism and depravity was limited to the long-suffering Russian people.
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2024
Authoritarians claim that only after scapegoats are purged can a nation be remade in the image of its strong leader, even as the nation, in purging those enemies, degenerates into despotism and lawlessness.
—Richard Cherwitz, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2024
The New York Times argued that Tweed’s prosecution offered a chance for New York City to rid itself of corruption, attract business and finance, and show new immigrants that America was a beacon for those fleeing despotism in other parts of the world.
—Ray Brescia / Made By History, TIME, 20 May 2024
So, between now and November expect Democrats and their media allies to argue endlessly, the only thing standing between American democracy and the despotism and heartless cruelty Republicans will undoubtedly bring is Biden.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despotism 
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2024
Authoritarians claim that only after scapegoats are purged can a nation be remade in the image of its strong leader, even as the nation, in purging those enemies, degenerates into despotism and lawlessness.
—Richard Cherwitz, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2024
The New York Times argued that Tweed’s prosecution offered a chance for New York City to rid itself of corruption, attract business and finance, and show new immigrants that America was a beacon for those fleeing despotism in other parts of the world.
—Ray Brescia / Made By History, TIME, 20 May 2024
So, between now and November expect Democrats and their media allies to argue endlessly, the only thing standing between American democracy and the despotism and heartless cruelty Republicans will undoubtedly bring is Biden.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despotism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despotism
Noun
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It's mainly made up of former and current law enforcement, former and current military, and these people see themselves as the last line of defense against government tyranny.Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
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Finally, Gibney breaks away from nonstop Sopranos worship for secondhand memories of Gandolfini’s personal struggles on the series — the mixture of pressure and addiction — and Chase’s transition into some level of occasional tyranny.Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2024
Noun
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Chinese officials fear that Russia’s influence over the insular dictatorship is growing at China’s expense.Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
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Unfolding against the backdrop of Argentina’s military dictatorship, Our Share of Night features a once-in-a-generation medium able to channel a dark force that warps his body and offers untold and dangerous power.Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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As its divisions with Washington have deepened, Beijing has ramped up efforts to challenge US global leadership and shape an international order into one that favors China and other autocracies.Simone McCarthy, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024
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Applebaum argues that Western democracies must reckon with their complicity in the spread of kleptocratic autocracy through offshore banking, money laundering, business deals, and ideological support from right-wing fellow travelers.Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Her lifestyle and perception of the world were not suited to depression, hunger, fascism, and war.Chadd Scott, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
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In recent years, the Morning Joe hosts have been harsh critics of Trump, comparing his rise to that of fascism.Ted Johnson, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Despotism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despotism. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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