robber baron
noun
1
: an American capitalist of the latter part of the 19th century who became wealthy through exploitation (as of natural resources, governmental influence, or low wage scales)
2
: a business owner or executive who acquires wealth through ethically questionable tactics
Examples of robber baron in a Sentence
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Across 17 tracks, Amos positions herself as both conqueror and coward, exploring how the greed and individualism of modern society has allowed tech feudalists and 21st-century robber barons to make out like kings.
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Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026
And to the abject awfulness of such robber barons as Misters Carnegie, Gould, and Frick.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
But there’s also a playbook for the robber barons to get and consolidate power.
—Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
This is what our nation’s robber barons consider a sound investment?
—Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for robber baron
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Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026
And to the abject awfulness of such robber barons as Misters Carnegie, Gould, and Frick.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
But there’s also a playbook for the robber barons to get and consolidate power.
—Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
This is what our nation’s robber barons consider a sound investment?
—Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for robber baron
Cite this Entry
“Robber baron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robber%20baron. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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