as in tyrant
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
the despot exiled political dissidents to remote labor camps, where they were left to rot
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despot
And the space truly was palatial—but think refined career aristocrat rather than louche despot.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Feb. 2026
The companies made deals with whichever military despot was in power in Caracas, angering young intellectuals such as Rómulo Betancourt, who harbored dreams of a democratic Venezuela.
—The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
Those are the musings of a despot, not a president.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despot
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Feb. 2026
The companies made deals with whichever military despot was in power in Caracas, angering young intellectuals such as Rómulo Betancourt, who harbored dreams of a democratic Venezuela.
—The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
Those are the musings of a despot, not a president.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despot
Noun
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Colletti joins One Piece as Wapol, a tyrant and adversary to the Straw Hats.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
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At the time, Athens had just emerged from a period of dictatorship and some of his students had been among the tyrants who sought to take down Athens’ democracy.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The organization recognized her history of opposing former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and named her the 2025 recipient of the prize in October.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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The title refers to the million Syrian refugees that were admitted into Germany during the brutal civil war that culminated with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Moscow in November 2024.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despot. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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