1
as in arbitrary
exercising power or authority without interference by others
a nation ruled by a series of despotic rulers, each seemingly worse than the last
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
the despotic coach demands that his players obey him without question
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of despotic
Photo: Obscured Pictures Building the world of the film also meant drawing on all manner of cultural references—from the depths of the Vice News YouTube channel to an early ’00s documentary about American Apparel and its despotic CEO, Dov Charney, that Ulman sent to Simon Rex.
—
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 May 2025
In these ways, Trump’s despotic acts are indeed without precedent in American history.
—Patrick Eddington, Oc Register, 20 Apr. 2025
It was first created in 1942 specifically to serve as a foil to Axis disinformation and over the years became a beacon of hope to people living under all manner of totalitarian and despotic governments.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
The notion that these companies were sovereign enclaves of pitilessly despotic geniuses is a myth of recent vintage.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despotic
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 May 2025
In these ways, Trump’s despotic acts are indeed without precedent in American history.
—Patrick Eddington, Oc Register, 20 Apr. 2025
It was first created in 1942 specifically to serve as a foil to Axis disinformation and over the years became a beacon of hope to people living under all manner of totalitarian and despotic governments.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
The notion that these companies were sovereign enclaves of pitilessly despotic geniuses is a myth of recent vintage.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despotic
Adjective
-
In some ways, are triple doubles an arbitrary achievement?—
Shane Young,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Lalami clearly needed a way to get Sara home to end the book, and springing her in this way is consistent with the arbitrary nature of her incarceration and the mercurial behavior of her keepers.—
Book Marks
August 7,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The interim government, formed shortly afterward under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, was widely hailed as a new chapter for Bangladesh: a chance to repair years of authoritarian rule, enforced disappearances, corruption and human rights abuses.—
Shamim Chowdhury,
NPR,
5 Aug. 2025
-
For any authoritarian regime, political succession is a moment of peril, and for all its strengths, the CCP is no exception.—
TYLER JOST,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
What was mostly missing was the occasional cool front that pushes out the most oppressive heat and humidity.—
Staff And Wire Reports,
Boston Herald,
10 Aug. 2025
-
Philadelphia had 29 days, Washington had 27 days and Baltimore had 24 days where the highest dew point simmered to at least 75 degrees, which even the the weather service office in Tampa calls oppressive, according to weather service data.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Avoid being domineering, but also avoid being stepped on by someone else.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 July 2025
-
My Mom Died is a heartbreaking and hilarious recounting of McCurdy’s struggles as a former child actor while dealing with her overbearing, domineering mother.—
Charley Ross,
Glamour,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Depicting Americans as arrogant, loud, boorish and demeaning of other cultures, the term has stuck and is still mentioned 60-plus years later.—
Jenny Peters,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The most radical overhaul of the tax code in our state’s history would require voter approval in November 2026, and that starts by portraying local governments as cartoonishly arrogant, bloated and unaccountable.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
This nonfiction account from the Pulitzer-prize winning writer analyzes 21st century autocratic states worldwide, and how democracies can best organize underneath them.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Taiwan’s parties, in other words, portray their opponents not just as politically different but as autocratic traitors.—
LEV NACHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The tyrannical emperor connected with Atari to debut his 9-foot-tall, multi-piece suit.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 July 2025
-
Since his memorable performance on the Netflix sci-fi show, Quinn has starred alongside Lupita Nyong’o in A Quiet Place: Day One and played a tyrannical emperor in Gladiator II.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
Backers of the project, long a punching bag for populists, now have their own populist target: the dictatorial president seeking to cancel America’s only public high-speed rail.—
Joe Mathews,
Mercury News,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Like all dictatorial regimes, the survival of the system and the maintenance of power is the Iranian government’s priority.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despotic. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share