1
as in arbitrary
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
Finally, rulers in despotic regimes might accept assistance in boosting economic growth, provided that such growth does not threaten their own hold on power.
—
Stephen D. Krasner, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2020
In just a few days last week, the loose coalition of resistance fighters ended a cruel tyrannical dynastic rein in Syria as Russia and Iran were too distracted to bring air cover to their ally, the despotic President al-Assad.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
Yet over the weekend, suddenly, and to much of the world's surprise, the despotic regime of the al-Assad family fell and Assad himself, with his wife and children, escaped to Moscow, where he was granted political asylum.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s despotic regime in Syria this weekend highlights the interconnectedness of a growing number of global conflicts, revealing a hard truth that most of us would rather not think about too deeply: World War III has already begun.
—Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despotic 
Stephen D. Krasner, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2020
In just a few days last week, the loose coalition of resistance fighters ended a cruel tyrannical dynastic rein in Syria as Russia and Iran were too distracted to bring air cover to their ally, the despotic President al-Assad.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
Yet over the weekend, suddenly, and to much of the world's surprise, the despotic regime of the al-Assad family fell and Assad himself, with his wife and children, escaped to Moscow, where he was granted political asylum.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s despotic regime in Syria this weekend highlights the interconnectedness of a growing number of global conflicts, revealing a hard truth that most of us would rather not think about too deeply: World War III has already begun.
—Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despotic
Adjective
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Right-wing people choosing to pick on LGBTQ folks was almost arbitrary.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2025
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The energy is used not to create goods or services but to solve arbitrary puzzles that sustain speculative networks.—
Eric Solis,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In this paradigm, the ideal worker is less like a corporate ally or a trusted collaborator and more like a subject of an authoritarian regime.—
Anna Wiener,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
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Over the past decade, during which the authoritarian Law and Justice party has ruled in Poland, the Centre has served as a staunch defender of independent research.—
Natalia Romik / Madę by History,
TIME,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Jimmy Garoppolo profited from exposure to 49ers’ system The Commanders, thankfully shorn of the oppressive incompetence of former owner Daniel Snyder, were remade in a year by G.M. Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn.—
Jerry McDonald,
The Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2025
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The book, taking the form of a fable told in short, single paragraphs, scattershot swatches of wisdom, aphorisms and illustrations, has long been a manual for how to practice togetherness in the face of extreme, oppressive opposition.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The stress of being a loyal husband and father while toiling tirelessly at Spacely Space Sprockets – headed by a domineering man with a Napoleon complex – seems to float away as the zooming saucer-like aero cars with large bubble roofs leave behind popcorn-like residue from fuel pellets and radium.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
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The voters might want to cash in their IOU here, but something tells me the Globes have one truly trashy TV pick in them for this year and will get their Ryan Murphy on with a win for Javier Bardem as the domineering Menendez patriarch.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Inside Llewyn Davis star plays Victor Frankenstein, the arrogant scientist who successfully creates life out of an assemblage of deceased body parts.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
30 Jan. 2025
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An arrogant advertiser at the peak of success is forced to promote a tycoon as a presidential candidate, while a mysterious stalker threatens to destroy his agency and his reputation.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For instance, a study examining various leadership styles found that transformational leadership positively correlates with enhanced organizational performance, while transactional and autocratic styles may have less favorable effects.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
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The other is going to build authoritarian, autocratic AI.—
Micah McCartney,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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King Saran Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) will portray the tyrannical king who is also Amari and Inan's father.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 Jan. 2025
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Despite these achievements, many scholars believe the king deserves his tyrannical reputation.—
Ellen Wexler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Though Yoon rescinded the decree after just six hours, the martial law imposition was the first of its kind in South Korea in more than 40 years and evoked painful memories of past dictatorial rules in the 1960s-80s.—
Danielle Wallace,
Fox News,
26 Jan. 2025
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World Gone, the Assads Jay Nordlinger On the rise and fall of Syria’s dictatorial dynasty.—
Daniel Foster,
National Review,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near despotic
Cite this Entry
“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despotic. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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