despotic
adjective
des·pot·ic
de-ˈspä-tik 
di-
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a despot
a despotic government
Examples of despotic in a Sentence
a nation ruled by a series of despotic rulers, each seemingly worse than the last
the despotic coach demands that his players obey him without question
Recent Examples on the Web
Especially right now, when most of whatever happens next would seem to be determined by arbitrary and despotic centers of earthly power.
—
James Parker, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
The emergency has become the rule, transforming exceptional powers into the ordinary machinery of despotic governance.
—Beatriz Magaloni, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2025
This is how legal systems in despotic regimes operate.
—Andrew Binns, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The Academy rules work for countries with democratic governments but not for countries with despotic regimes.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despotic
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James Parker, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
The emergency has become the rule, transforming exceptional powers into the ordinary machinery of despotic governance.
—Beatriz Magaloni, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2025
This is how legal systems in despotic regimes operate.
—Andrew Binns, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The Academy rules work for countries with democratic governments but not for countries with despotic regimes.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despotic
Cite this Entry
“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despotic. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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