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
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
To justify their repression and retain the throne, despots require a big enemy and manufacture security threats that lead to more wars.
—S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 19 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
Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2025
To justify their repression and retain the throne, despots require a big enemy and manufacture security threats that lead to more wars.
—S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 19 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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The light historical touch is no doubt necessary for a series trying to sell its viewers on a love story between a modern protagonist and a character originally based on a real-life historical tyrant.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
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Reynolds is a tetchy tyrant, who, enabled by his sister, Cyril (Lesley Manville), has embraced a need to have things just so as a means of warding off vulnerability.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy over efforts by close aides to procure funds for his 2007 presidential bid from Libya during the rule of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi.—
Juliette Jabkhiro,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
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He was also found guilty of permitting close aides to seek campaign money from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors during the rule of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despot. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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