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
That's what a despot - who wants to steal the taxpayers money to enrich his billionaire cabal - does.
—
David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
Without outside help or with the wrong kind of foreign aid, Syria will be more likely to slide back into civil war or come under the thumb of another despot.
—Nafees Hamid, Foreign Affairs, 31 Jan. 2025
The horror show of our impending political nightmare is casting a shadow over the New Year like another decrepit despot of suffering, the creeping bloodsucker of Nosferatu.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
This dynamic is especially relevant for despots who do not intend to exit the scene peacefully when their tenure is up.
—Michael Poznansky, Foreign Affairs, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despot
David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
Without outside help or with the wrong kind of foreign aid, Syria will be more likely to slide back into civil war or come under the thumb of another despot.
—Nafees Hamid, Foreign Affairs, 31 Jan. 2025
The horror show of our impending political nightmare is casting a shadow over the New Year like another decrepit despot of suffering, the creeping bloodsucker of Nosferatu.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
This dynamic is especially relevant for despots who do not intend to exit the scene peacefully when their tenure is up.
—Michael Poznansky, Foreign Affairs, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despot
Noun
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Throughout Russian history, Ivan the Terrible – who among his other crimes murdered his eldest son and had the head of Russian Orthodox Church strangled for dissent – was remembered as a repulsive tyrant.—
Dina Khapaeva,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2025
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The sixth emperor of the famed Mughal dynasty, he is considered by many detractors to be a tyrant who brutalized women, razed Hindu temples, forced religious conversions and waged wars against Hindu and Sikh rulers.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Through his interactions with Saddam, Nixon gains a deeper understanding of the Iraqi dictator, the potential consequences of the invasion, and the humanitarian and geopolitical turmoil that would ensue.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2025
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The violence is stoking fears among Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious minorities who have grown increasingly worried about persecution under the rule of Syria’s new Islamist leaders, who overthrew the dictator Bashar al-Assad in December.—
Euan Ward,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despot. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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