Synonyms of despotic

despotic

adjective

de-ˈspä-tik 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• oppressive
• authoritarian
• arbitrary
• autocratic
• tyrannical
• dictatorial
• tyrannous
• czarist
• domineering
• totalitarian
• absolute
• monocratic
• imperious
• antidemocratic
• sovereign
• omnipotent
• autonomous
• all-powerful
• magisterial
• jackbooted
• high-handed
• unconditional
• almighty
• antirepublican
• masterful
• unlimited
• self-governing
• self-ruling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• limited
• constitutional
• restricted
• democratic
• lawful
• republican
• restrained
• circumscribed

2

as in authoritarian

fond of ordering people around

the despotic coach demands that his players obey him without question

Synonyms & Similar Words

• authoritarian
• domineering
• arrogant
• autocratic
• tyrannical
• dictatorial
• tyrannous
• authoritative
• overbearing
• imperious
• aggressive
• bossy
• proud
• commanding
• masterful
• controlling
• peremptory
• imperial
• supercilious
• regimental
• stern
• haughty
• important
• high-and-mighty
• superior
• pretentious
• arbitrary
• uppity
• disdainful
• assumptive
• presumptuous
• directorial
• overweening
• lordly
• narcissistic
• magisterial
• high-hat
• huffy
• omnipotent
• high-handed
• lofty
• all-powerful
• uppish
• conceited
• assertive
• vain
• highfalutin
• pompous
• dictating
• fastuous
• almighty
• toplofty
• self-asserting
• imperative
• presuming
• self-assertive
• firm

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humble
• modest
• meek
• unassuming
• obedient
• docile
• amenable
• tractable
• passive
• indecisive
• submissive
• compliant
• irresolute
• yielding
• acquiescent
• resigned

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of despotic

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

Hard to Be a God is about a planet that has not been allowed to advance beyond the Middle Ages, and descended into a filthy, despotic, and violent world. — James Folta, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026

Remarkably, among the foremost critics of Cuba’s single-party despotic rule is one of Castro’s own daughters, Alina Fernández Revuelta. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2026

The monarchist movement has not governed Iran since 1979, and its corrupt, despotic leader was overthrown in the revolution. — Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026