despotic

adjective

des·​pot·​ic de-ˈspä-tik 

di-

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a despot

a despotic government

despotically

de-ˈspä-ti-k(ə-)lē 

di-

adverb

Synonyms of despotic

• oppressive
• authoritarian
• arbitrary
• autocratic
• tyrannical
• dictatorial
• tyrannous

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

The comedy of errors that follows as Ina attempts to solve the nation’s problems, from traffic congestion to energy crisis, doubles as a critique of the despotic regime and the tumult of living in such hellish times. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026

Indeed, the representatives of that Government assert that the people of Hawaii are unfit for popular government and frankly avow that they can be best ruled by arbitrary or despotic power. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026

Loss of credibility leads to loss of legitimacy in a despotic regime. — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

The pretence of an absolute, irresistible, despotic power, existing in every government somewhere, is incompatible with the first principle of natural right. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

see despot

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for despotic

• aprotic
• aquatic
• biotic
• chaotic
• cirrhotic
• demotic
• dichotic
• erotic
• euphotic
• exotic
• fibrotic
• hieratic