robber baron

noun

1

: an American capitalist of the latter part of the 19th century who became wealthy through exploitation (as of natural resources, governmental influence, or low wage scales)

2

: a business owner or executive who acquires wealth through ethically questionable tactics

Examples of robber baron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Things could change: the robber barons of the Gilded Age were eventually brought down; twentieth-century industrial tyrants were, over time, shamed into retreat. —Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

Stewart called Goldstein a robber baron while forgetting the show was live. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024

The rampant capitalism practiced by robber barons such as Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and John Rockefeller over a century ago was ultimately checked by government measures to protect consumers, workers, and market competition. —Tom Wheeler, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

But Cahokia is surrounded by American robber barons eager to destroy its hierarchy and appropriate its treasures. —Mary Ann Gwinn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1