as in tyrant
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
the despot exiled political dissidents to remote labor camps, where they were left to rot
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Recent Examples of despot
The horror show of our impending political nightmare is casting a shadow over the New Year like another decrepit despot of suffering, the creeping bloodsucker of Nosferatu.
—
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
This dynamic is especially relevant for despots who do not intend to exit the scene peacefully when their tenure is up.
—Michael Poznansky, Foreign Affairs, 3 Jan. 2025
Maguire envisioned a dystopian Oz where the Wizard is a fascist despot.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2024
Assad's fall is a moment of accountability in a world where despots often escape justice.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for despot
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
This dynamic is especially relevant for despots who do not intend to exit the scene peacefully when their tenure is up.
—Michael Poznansky, Foreign Affairs, 3 Jan. 2025
Maguire envisioned a dystopian Oz where the Wizard is a fascist despot.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2024
Assad's fall is a moment of accountability in a world where despots often escape justice.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for despot
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Cite this Entry
“Despot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despot. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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