despotic

des·pot·ic

adj \des-ˈpä-tik, dis-\

Definition of DESPOTIC

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a despot

— des·pot·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of DESPOTIC

1. <a nation ruled by a series of despotic rulers, each seemingly worse than the last>
2. <the despotic coach demands that his players obey him without question>

First Known Use of DESPOTIC

1604

Related to DESPOTIC

Synonyms: arbitrary, autocratic (also autocratical), czarist (also tsarist or tzarist), absolute, dictatorial, monocratic, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous

Antonyms: limited

Related Words: authoritarian, jackbooted, oppressive, totalitarian; antidemocratic, antirepublican; high-handed, magisterial; domineering, imperious, masterful; all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent; autonomous, self-governing, self-ruling, sovereign (also sovran); unconditional, unlimited

Near Antonyms: circumscribed, restrained, restricted; constitutional, lawful; democratic, republican

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with DESPOTIC

aquatic, biotic, chaotic, cirrhotic, demotic, ergotic, erotic, exotic, hypnotic, kyphotic, leprotic, lordotic, meiotic, mitotic, narcotic, necrotic, neurotic, Nilotic, osmotic, psychotic, quixotic, robotic, sclerotic, thrombotic, zygotic