despotism
noun
des·po·tism
ˈde-spə-ˌti-zəm 
1
a
: oppressive absolute (see absolute sense 2) power and authority exerted by government : rule by a despot
an excess of law is despotism, from which free men revolt—
S. B. Pettengill
S. B. Pettengill
b
: oppressive or despotic exercise of power
educational despotism
2
a
: a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power : absolutism
b
: a despotic state
enduring the despotism of the czars
Synonyms
Examples of despotism in a Sentence
by the end of the 20th century many countries around the world had rejected despotism in favor of democracy
Recent Examples on the Web
The third resembles despotism by a cruel master or absolute monarch.
—WIRED, 6 July 2023
In short, the flames kindled on the 4th of July, 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism . . .
—Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2023
McMahon built this empire through, at once, vision and despotism.
—Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2023
For the United States, the effort to prevent Sudan’s potential return to despotism is an unlikely role after decades in which the country was largely known for mass atrocities and as a haven for terrorists, including, for nearly five years in the 1990s, Osama bin Laden.
—Declan Walsh, New York Times, 3 May 2023
And while China remains at arm’s length from the rest of the international community, whatever A.I. research China will be involved in will be under the thumb of a state dictatorship with powerful incentives to keep it under some kind of control: a rare silver lining of despotism.
—Thomas Geoghegan, The New Republic, 8 May 2023
In the process, Muratov has encountered a choice that has confronted many Nobel laureates who have stared down despotism before him: whether to cling to the purity of ideals (and shut the paper) or press on within the constraints of a repressive system (and keep it alive).
—Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2022
Anarchy and despotism are not vague possibilities.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 2 Mar. 2021
This is the problem of despotism.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2022
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WIRED, 6 July 2023
In short, the flames kindled on the 4th of July, 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism . . .
—Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2023
McMahon built this empire through, at once, vision and despotism.
—Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2023
For the United States, the effort to prevent Sudan’s potential return to despotism is an unlikely role after decades in which the country was largely known for mass atrocities and as a haven for terrorists, including, for nearly five years in the 1990s, Osama bin Laden.
—Declan Walsh, New York Times, 3 May 2023
And while China remains at arm’s length from the rest of the international community, whatever A.I. research China will be involved in will be under the thumb of a state dictatorship with powerful incentives to keep it under some kind of control: a rare silver lining of despotism.
—Thomas Geoghegan, The New Republic, 8 May 2023
In the process, Muratov has encountered a choice that has confronted many Nobel laureates who have stared down despotism before him: whether to cling to the purity of ideals (and shut the paper) or press on within the constraints of a repressive system (and keep it alive).
—Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2022
Anarchy and despotism are not vague possibilities.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 2 Mar. 2021
This is the problem of despotism.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'despotism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Despotism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despotism. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
despotism
noun
des·po·tism
ˈdes-pə-ˌtiz-əm
1
: rule by a despot : tyranny
2
: a state or a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
More from Merriam-Webster on despotism
Nglish: Translation of despotism for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of despotism for Arabic Speakers
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