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 dance, not seen in years, is loosely based on the play by Eugene O’Neill, about an arrogant despot undone by his demons.
—
Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
By most historical accounts, the Roman Emperor Caligula was a nightmare–a sadistic, debaucherous, and unstable despot.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025
In one hour, the Georgian despot’s bodyguard will knock on the hotel-room door and make Alec very rich.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 12 June 2025
There are enough despots around the world using the same divisive techniques — misinformation, disinformation — to control people.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for despot
Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
By most historical accounts, the Roman Emperor Caligula was a nightmare–a sadistic, debaucherous, and unstable despot.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025
In one hour, the Georgian despot’s bodyguard will knock on the hotel-room door and make Alec very rich.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 12 June 2025
There are enough despots around the world using the same divisive techniques — misinformation, disinformation — to control people.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for despot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despot
Noun
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McDaniel has never been a screamer or a tyrant like some old-school coaches.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
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The tyrant dies and his rule is over.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Cult of Reason lasted little more than a year before Robespierre, now ensconced as France’s dictator, replaced it with his own Cult of the Supreme Being.—
Paul Kingsnorth,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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The most notorious, in 1978, saw the late queen hide behind a bush in the gardens of Buckingham Palace to avoid Nicolae Ceaușescu, having already removed anything that the Romanian dictator could steal from his room following a warning from Giscard d'Estaing, the then French president.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despot. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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