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

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

• absolutism
• autarchy
• authoritarianism
• autocracy
• Caesarism
• czarism
• tsarism
• tzarism
• dictatorship
• totalism
• totalitarianism
• tyranny

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 necessity of power sharing also meant that Congress could provide a check against despotism even if the same party held the Presidency and a majority in both houses. —David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025

And there are worse messages to be putting out into the world via family films right now than celebrating the virtues of kindness and fairness over cruel despotism. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025

Cutting bureaucracy isn’t usually associated with despotism and power grabs. —Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025

Picking your form of government used to feel like an existential choice, but now despotism and oligarchy are hardly differentiated. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see despot

First Known Use

circa 1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for despotism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

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