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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despot
Beloved strongmen can slide into becoming desperate despots, a risk courted by all of Bukele’s imitators and by Bukele himself.
—
Beatriz Magaloni, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2025
Kornbluth: On depression and despots Josh Kornbluth has established himself over the years as one of the Bay Area’s best storytellers.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2025
The dance, not seen in years, is loosely based on the play by Eugene O’Neill, about an arrogant despot undone by his demons.
—Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
Who is the public supposed to turn to when public broadcasting networks appear to be manipulated by an aspiring despot?
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for despot
Beatriz Magaloni, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2025
Kornbluth: On depression and despots Josh Kornbluth has established himself over the years as one of the Bay Area’s best storytellers.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2025
The dance, not seen in years, is loosely based on the play by Eugene O’Neill, about an arrogant despot undone by his demons.
—Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
Who is the public supposed to turn to when public broadcasting networks appear to be manipulated by an aspiring despot?
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for despot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despot
Noun
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So how should CHROs and other talent leaders handle reports of an office tyrant?—
Susan Caminiti,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
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Bring the Paine The only thing Paine liked less than monarchical rule was its enablers, anyone who relinquished their freedom willingly to an aspiring tyrant.—
Matthew Redmond,
The Conversation,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And with foreign powers long divided over the war in Syria and the uprising against its former dictator, there is little hope for an international tribunal either.—
Danny Makki,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The 2025 Noble Peace Prize went to Maria Corina Machado for her political opposition to Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despot. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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