despotic
adjective
des·pot·ic
de-ˈspä-tik 
di-
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a despot
a despotic government
Synonyms
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
Eventually Noa does find his family — when he and Mae are captured and taken to a kingdom ruled by the despotic Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand).
—
Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024
My father came from Iraq, where occupation, American meddling and despotic leadership were the norm in his lifetime.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
The point of helping Ukraine defend itself against its despotic foe — like the point of defending Israel, or Taiwan, or NATO members rich or poor — isn’t altruism.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024
That includes efforts to undermine democracy by anyone with designs on despotic rule.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despotic 
Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024
My father came from Iraq, where occupation, American meddling and despotic leadership were the norm in his lifetime.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
The point of helping Ukraine defend itself against its despotic foe — like the point of defending Israel, or Taiwan, or NATO members rich or poor — isn’t altruism.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024
That includes efforts to undermine democracy by anyone with designs on despotic rule.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despotic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'despotic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near despotic
Cite this Entry
“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despotic. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
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