1
as in oppressive
exercising power or authority without interference by others
a nation ruled by a series of despotic rulers, each seemingly worse than the last
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2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
the despotic coach demands that his players obey him without question
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Recent Examples of despotic
The book explains the world order as three despotic governments that horrifically dominate their citizens, control their respective satellite allies and are always at war.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
Healing the nation Up to 1,400 people were killed in the July 2024 revolution that toppled Hasina in addition to some 3,500 extrajudicially disappeared during the last 15 years of her despotic reign.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
The first Mistborn trilogy of books centered on metal-using magicians who attempt to overthrow a despotic empire.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
For close to 50 years, the government of Iran has been one of the most despotic and destabilizing forces in the world.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despotic
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
Healing the nation Up to 1,400 people were killed in the July 2024 revolution that toppled Hasina in addition to some 3,500 extrajudicially disappeared during the last 15 years of her despotic reign.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
The first Mistborn trilogy of books centered on metal-using magicians who attempt to overthrow a despotic empire.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
For close to 50 years, the government of Iran has been one of the most despotic and destabilizing forces in the world.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despotic
Adjective
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The dialogue is well-crafted, the Southern atmosphere (Atlanta doubling Savannah, with Savannah here and there standing for itself) suitably oppressive.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Dew points above 65 degrees indicate a high level of moisture in the air, making the heat oppressive.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Regardless of why Americans express neutrality, those who do so are just as likely to vote for authoritarian politicians as the relatively small number of Americans (less than 1 in 5) who explicitly support undemocratic practices.—
Matthew E.K. Hall,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
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Safety regulations – intended to constrain corporate power – in authoritarian regimes become tools to coerce compliance.—
Michael Gregory,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Given that, the court concluded that forcing UCAR to give up its supercomputing center was arbitrary and capricious, and thus violated the Administrative Procedures Act.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
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More people know about arbitrary arrests and imprisonments.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Among those acolytes is Lucien (Jérémy Gillet), a reedy, repressed young virgin who yearns to be part of the gay community but hasn’t the courage to come out to his domineering mother Christine (Elisabeth Wiener), who also just happens to be the country’s very right-wing health minister.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
23 May 2026
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Down at the bottom of the hierarchy, or really not ranked at all, is Lucien (Jérémy Gillet), a fey and cosseted twink of privilege who longs to meet Jim but is kept at home, safely away from anything gay, by his domineering mother.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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But there simply aren’t that many people who want an autocratic America.—
Matthew E.K. Hall,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
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Putin was also at the parade, with the three autocratic leaders putting on an unprecedented show of unity.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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The tension between the two boils over into a confrontation which only Eisenhower can adjudicate, a task complicated by his own arrogant British subordinate, a wiry and dislikable General Bernard Montgomery - played with a villainous verve bordering on the pantomime by Damian Lewis.—
Daniel Jonah Wolpert,
NPR,
29 May 2026
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Public policy decisions always need to strive for middle ground, and those leadership decisions often referred to as arrogant can just as easily be called principled leadership.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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However, to embrace his destiny Adam must become He-Man, return to his home planet, reclaim the Sword of Power and save his people from the tyrannical Skeletor.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
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And intrusion by Sacramento lawmakers is nothing short of tyrannical.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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As pointed out by Cox, Zagallo was only brought in as manager in the March of 1970 after his predecessor, Saldanha, had fallen out with Brazil’s dictatorial president Emilio Medici.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
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Yet, the courage and determination of lawyers who insist upon proper enforcement of the law, even in corrupt and dictatorial regimes, stand as their own form of powerful dissent.—
Irwin Cotler,
Time,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despotic. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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