despotic
adjective
des·pot·ic
de-ˈspä-tik 
di-
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a despot
a despotic government
Synonyms of despotic
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
Cortinas’ efforts for the government to reveal the truth about her son’s whereabouts sparked the Madres de Plaza de Mayo movement, where the mothers of revolutionaries protested and pressured the despotic government for information about their missing children.
—
Andrew McGowan, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
The Holocaust was planned and fomented in secrecy by a despotic regime.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Trump brushed aside past criticism from Mamdani—including claims the administration’s deportation tactics were despotic—quipping that holding executive office forces officials to evolve.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for despotic
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Andrew McGowan, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
The Holocaust was planned and fomented in secrecy by a despotic regime.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Trump brushed aside past criticism from Mamdani—including claims the administration’s deportation tactics were despotic—quipping that holding executive office forces officials to evolve.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for despotic
Cite this Entry
“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despotic. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
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