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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
the despotic coach demands that his players obey him without question
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despotic
The proud and courageous Iranian people are rising up against the tyrannical, despotic and oppressive regime that imposed its vicious rule in 1979 and has governed by fear and murder ever since.
—
Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Soon, Venezuelan Jews joined others in the country in growing sharply concerned about a crackdown on civil liberties, the worsening economy and Chávez’s praise for despotic leaders such as Saddam Hussein.
—Larry Luxner, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Cortinas’ efforts for the government to reveal the truth about her son’s whereabouts sparked the Madres de Plaza de Mayo movement, where the mothers of revolutionaries protested and pressured the despotic government for information about their missing children.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
The Holocaust was planned and fomented in secrecy by a despotic regime.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despotic
Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Soon, Venezuelan Jews joined others in the country in growing sharply concerned about a crackdown on civil liberties, the worsening economy and Chávez’s praise for despotic leaders such as Saddam Hussein.
—Larry Luxner, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Cortinas’ efforts for the government to reveal the truth about her son’s whereabouts sparked the Madres de Plaza de Mayo movement, where the mothers of revolutionaries protested and pressured the despotic government for information about their missing children.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
The Holocaust was planned and fomented in secrecy by a despotic regime.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despotic
Adjective
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The case also involves accusations of oppressive schedules and curtailed opportunities for sponsorships.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
25 Feb. 2026
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Embedded in a patriarchal family within an oppressive society, Mrie faces the challenge of disentangling herself from both.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Yet the tyrannical impulse of authoritarian populists is the same across the world.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
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Simultaneously, the rise of populist, authoritarian leaders and the radical right is destabilizing democracies.—
Time,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The result is essentially an arbitrary purity test that tightens capital access necessary for creating American jobs and stimulating local economies.—
Krish O'Mara Vignarajah,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2026
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When individuals cross an arbitrary age threshold and are expected to step aside, society signals that relevance has an expiration date.—
Klaus Schwab,
Time,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Sophie Turner plays Anne, living in the countryside and struggling in poverty with her domineering mother-in-law Morwen (Harden).—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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This is the rare movie adaptation that does cover the second half of the book, and our first glimpse of Heathcliff is as the domineering terror of his later years.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Memories of the shah's autocratic rule remain mixed in the country, although nostalgia for the period's economic prosperity has grown.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Was this a prank, an autocratic emergency, or something else?—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The history of classic Athens shows us that a Democracy can misuse its power, become arrogant and become a tyrant.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
25 Feb. 2026
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Maekar refuses, earning a cutting rebuttal from Dunk about the royal upbringing that turned Daeron (Henry Ashton) into a drunken coward and Aerion into an arrogant and cruel madman.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet the tyrannical impulse of authoritarian populists is the same across the world.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
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The Colbert episode did not prove that the agency is tyrannical or obsolete.—
Jay Caruso,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The judge was absolutely incredulous about the contractual argument and the independent, dictatorial authority of the president.—
Liz Crawford,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
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Rubio has been carrying out dictatorial measures at home.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despotic. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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