Despotic
/dɪˈspɑːtɪk/adjective
A person having absolute and unrestricted power, often exercised brutally or unfairly.
The king ruled in a despotic manner, with no thought to the well-being of his subjects.
Often appears as...
- despotic ruler
- despotic regime
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
A person having absolute and unrestricted power, often exercised brutally or unfairly.
The king ruled in a despotic manner, with no thought to the well-being of his subjects.
Often appears as...
- despotic ruler
- despotic regime
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'despotic' carries a negative meaning, suggesting cruel and oppressive leadership.
The despotic government ignored the people's demands for freedom.
Pro Tip 2/3Absolute Power
'Despotic' implies a leader has absolute control without legal or moral boundaries.
The CEO's despotic control over the company created a toxic work environment.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Usage
'Despotic' is often used to describe rulers in history known for harsh, absolute rule.
Historians describe the reign of Ivan the Terrible as despotic.
Compare with
arbitraryauthoritarianautocraticdictatorialdomineeroppressivetotalitariantyrannical
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Video examples
Gelada Baboon Sexual...
female geladas can't live with a high level of aggression they want to be left in peace to rear their offspring so they've got ways of preventing their despotic male from behaving too badly inviting him to groom them and grooming
Video examples
James Kunstler: How bad...
and all the other great despots of the 20th century on the side of the building, because then we'd honestly be saying what the building is really communicating to us. You know, that it's a despotic building;
Video examples
Gelada Baboon Sexual...
female geladas can't live with a high level of aggression they want to be left in peace to rear their offspring so they've got ways of preventing their despotic male from behaving too badly inviting him to groom them and grooming
Video examples
James Kunstler: How bad...
and all the other great despots of the 20th century on the side of the building, because then we'd honestly be saying what the building is really communicating to us. You know, that it's a despotic building;
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
John C. Calhoun
American Statesman
How can this full, perfect, just and supreme voice of the people, embodied in the Constitution, be brought to bear, habitually and steadily, in counteracting the fatal tendency of the government to the absolute and despotic control of the numerical majority?
Quote examples
Frank Herbert
American Writer
If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual.
Quote examples
Shelby Steele
American Author
Deference has been codified in American life as political correctness. And political correctness functions like a despotic regime. It is an oppressiveness that spreads its edicts further and further into the crevices of everyday life.
Quote examples
Dambisa Moyo
Zambian Economist
Under the all-encompassing aid system, too many places in Africa continue to flounder under inept, corrupt and despotic regimes who spend their time courting and catering to the demands of the army of aid organizations.
Quote examples
Sabine Baring-Gould
English Clergyman
The original settlers in Iceland were the nobles of Norway who left their native land to avoid the tyranny of Harold Fairhair, who tried to crush their power so as to make himself a despotic king in the land.
Quote examples
Tom Clancy
American Novelist
The control of information is something the elite always does, particularly in a despotic form of government. Information, knowledge, is power. If you can control information, you can control people.
Quote examples
Oriana Fallaci
Italian Journalist
Whether it comes from a despotic sovereign or an elected president, from a murderous general or a beloved leader, I see power as an inhuman and hateful phenomenon.
Quote examples
Lysander Spooner
American Philosopher
The trial by jury might safely be introduced into a despotic government, if the jury were to exercise no right of judging of the law, or the justice of the law.
Quote examples
Judd Gregg
American Politician
We invaded Iraq to change a totalitarian, despotic regime, and we have been successful there.
Quote examples
Honore de Balzac
French Novelist
When law becomes despotic, morals are relaxed, and vice versa.
Quote examples
John C. Calhoun
American Statesman
How can this full, perfect, just and supreme voice of the people, embodied in the Constitution, be brought to bear, habitually and steadily, in counteracting the fatal tendency of the government to the absolute and despotic control of the numerical majority?
Quote examples
Frank Herbert
American Writer
If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual.
Quote examples
Shelby Steele
American Author
Deference has been codified in American life as political correctness. And political correctness functions like a despotic regime. It is an oppressiveness that spreads its edicts further and further into the crevices of everyday life.
Quote examples
Dambisa Moyo
Zambian Economist
Under the all-encompassing aid system, too many places in Africa continue to flounder under inept, corrupt and despotic regimes who spend their time courting and catering to the demands of the army of aid organizations.
Quote examples
Sabine Baring-Gould
English Clergyman
The original settlers in Iceland were the nobles of Norway who left their native land to avoid the tyranny of Harold Fairhair, who tried to crush their power so as to make himself a despotic king in the land.
Quote examples
Tom Clancy
American Novelist
The control of information is something the elite always does, particularly in a despotic form of government. Information, knowledge, is power. If you can control information, you can control people.
Quote examples
Oriana Fallaci
Italian Journalist
Whether it comes from a despotic sovereign or an elected president, from a murderous general or a beloved leader, I see power as an inhuman and hateful phenomenon.
Quote examples
Lysander Spooner
American Philosopher
The trial by jury might safely be introduced into a despotic government, if the jury were to exercise no right of judging of the law, or the justice of the law.
Quote examples
Judd Gregg
American Politician
We invaded Iraq to change a totalitarian, despotic regime, and we have been successful there.
Quote examples
Honore de Balzac
French Novelist
When law becomes despotic, morals are relaxed, and vice versa.
Example 1 of 10
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