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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Beyond its pleasures as a noir, the chronicle of Kolechko’s fight against nascent Soviet power easily reminds one of present-day Ukraine’s struggle to preserve its dignity in the face of oppressive forces.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
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But the sweltering, sticky, oppressive facepalm of summer doesn’t make the other seasons more palatable.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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The show, which featured a sizzling performance by Walton Goggins, as an authoritarian vigilante, was an avant-garde breakthrough for television.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Given the authoritarian nature of the government and its control of the media, the full, brutal extent of these crackdowns are never seen by those inside the country, much less by foreigners.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
The case has become one of the most emblematic examples cited by rights organizations accusing Venezuela’s security apparatus of using arbitrary detention, incommunicado imprisonment and forced disappearances against dissidents and suspected opponents.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
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Her work-from-home job requires her to maintain a minimum internet connection of 65 Mbps in downloads, which is subject to arbitrary testing.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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Arenberg will play the sisters’ domineering father.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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After two tournaments in autocratic countries (Russia and Qatar), where FIFA could order up stadiums à la carte, the coming 2026 iteration has required the messy work of dealmaking in democratic societies.—
Henry Grabar,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
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Hungary's Péter Magyar took his oath of office on Saturday to become the country's new prime minister, ending Viktor Orbán's 16 years of autocratic rule.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
The tricky part of being a celebrity like Firstman on the internet is that some people can conflate your comedic persona (which is maybe a little arrogant, a little colorful) with your real identity.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
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Hunter is stubborn, arrogant and gifted enough to play for the Briar hockey team, yet refuses to for reasons the show has yet to reveal.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Joaquin Phoenix's villainous performance as the tyrannical emperor Commodus earned him an Academy Award nomination.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
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At the same time, the list of what a child needs has become exhaustive and tyrannical.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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The group parted ways after a 1967 European tour, in part due to Phil Spector’s increasingly dictatorial oversight of their releases.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despotic. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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