DESPOTIC Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

despotic

adjective

de-ˈspä-tik

Definition of despotic

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The pretence of an absolute, irresistible, despotic power, existing in every government somewhere, is incompatible with the first principle of natural right. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 That seems to me to be an absolutely clear point, that only despotic regimes do that stuff. — Katie Drummond, Wired News, 19 May 2026 The Academy rules work for countries with democratic governments but not for countries with despotic regimes. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 4 May 2026 Possibly to a way of life that not only survives many kinds of precarity—cruel weather, scanty income, a despotic army—but that even molds itself to them. — Samanth Subramanian, New Yorker, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for despotic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for despotic

Adjective

Central Connecticut State University President Zulma Toro resigned Wednesday following an investigation into a complaint alleging the workplace culture under her leadership was oppressive, bullying and intimidating.

— Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 23 Sep. 2026
In its opening episodes, the series carefully distinguishes Lizzie from her male killer counterparts while highlighting the oppressive conditions women faced in the era.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of oppressive

Adjective

Mason said experts in her field do not deny the existence of authoritarian personalities on the left, but ended up developing other, less partisan scales including one based on people's values for raising children.

— Lisa Hagen, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
The second half throws us into the other timeline, where Ari’s doppelgänger, known as Ibari, is a high-ranking undercover operative willing to disappear fellow citizens that pose challenges to the authoritarian government.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of authoritarian

Adjective

Its rules about transfers and conference membership seem arbitrary and deferential to the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences, college football's most influential.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Rights and media freedom groups have separately warned of police violence, arbitrary detentions, unauthorized surveillance and threats against journalists.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of arbitrary

Adjective

Sources said Gunning plays Annie, a quietly dutiful wife who has sacrificed her ambitions to raise four sons under her domineering husband, Duncan.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Fern proves himself as a true actor’s director, offering plum roles to Paulson, Watts and two-time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest as their chaotic and domineering mother.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of domineering

Adjective

Despite the many obstacles to deployment, the technology is already bringing autocratic regimes the upsides of cheaper surveillance, smarter censorship, and fewer human subordinates to fear and distrust.

— Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026
To date, the most serious challenge to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s increasingly autocratic tenure came from Ekrem İmamoğlu, the popular mayor of Istanbul.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of autocratic

Adjective

Elon Musk — Ike Barinholtz has Musk wandering in from another movie, or dimension, a ramble-y, arrogant but ultimately comically non-threatening figure.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
The loud-mouthed cameos from ex-soccer players Zlatan Ibrahimović and Eric Cantona in Nike’s World Cup hero film Rip the Script were indicative of this, chiming with an older, more arrogant vision of Nike seen in the ’90s and the aughts.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

Domingo played the tyrannical show-biz patriarch Joe Jackson in the movie.

— Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026
Her little acts of rebellion towards her tyrannical teachers attract the admiration of three other misfits and the four girls form an inseparable group.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of tyrannical

Adjective

Standing before her guards, the increasingly dictatorial ruler proclaims herself as the Chosen One to the people of King's Landing.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
In 2024, Margo is hired to find the book that disappeared, along with many others, through the dictatorial years.

— The Know, Denver Post, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of dictatorial

Browse Nearby Words

despot

despotic

despotism

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“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despotic. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of despotic

adjective

Example Sentences

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