despotic

adjective

des·​pot·​ic de-ˈspä-tik How to pronounce despotic (audio)
di-
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a despot
a despotic government
despotically adverb

Examples of despotic in a Sentence

a nation ruled by a series of despotic rulers, each seemingly worse than the last the despotic coach demands that his players obey him without question
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In contrast, land powers were often portrayed as despotic and militaristic. Colin Flint, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025 It was first created in 1942 specifically to serve as a foil to Axis disinformation and over the years became a beacon of hope to people living under all manner of totalitarian and despotic governments. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025 Hip-hop regenerates constantly, and yet there has been an almost despotic grip on the throne(s) for some time. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024 The notion that these companies were sovereign enclaves of pitilessly despotic geniuses is a myth of recent vintage. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for despotic

Word History

Etymology

see despot

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of despotic was in 1604

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despotic. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

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