1
as in arbitrary
exercising power or authority without interference by others
a nation ruled by a series of despotic rulers, each seemingly worse than the last
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2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
the despotic coach demands that his players obey him without question
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Recent Examples of despotic
Yet over the weekend, suddenly, and to much of the world's surprise, the despotic regime of the al-Assad family fell and Assad himself, with his wife and children, escaped to Moscow, where he was granted political asylum.
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Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s despotic regime in Syria this weekend highlights the interconnectedness of a growing number of global conflicts, revealing a hard truth that most of us would rather not think about too deeply: World War III has already begun.
—Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Last week’s attacks are the latest wave of resistance to Assad’s despotic rule, a civil war that began in 2011 and quickly descended into a proxy war, eventually leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of refugees.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2024
The concern is that any quick peace deal would equal victory for Moscow, rewarding it for despotic aggression and potentially emboldening China to invade Taiwan.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despotic 
Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s despotic regime in Syria this weekend highlights the interconnectedness of a growing number of global conflicts, revealing a hard truth that most of us would rather not think about too deeply: World War III has already begun.
—Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Last week’s attacks are the latest wave of resistance to Assad’s despotic rule, a civil war that began in 2011 and quickly descended into a proxy war, eventually leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of refugees.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2024
The concern is that any quick peace deal would equal victory for Moscow, rewarding it for despotic aggression and potentially emboldening China to invade Taiwan.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despotic
Adjective
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Get the ring that’s perfect for the woman, not the ring whose price tag aligns with an arbitrary algorithm. 18.Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024
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This first study on ADHD, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed the effect of arbitrary cut-off dates for enrollment in public schools on rates of diagnosis and treatment for ADHD.Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Key Background Prisoners fled Syrian prisons this week after Assad’s regime fell, marking the end of the Assad family’s authoritarian rule over the country after more than 50 years.Ty Roush, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
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Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of Assad, gathering in the capital's historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule.ALBERT AJI AND MATTHEW LEE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Earlier this year, two teenagers filed a class-action lawsuit against a Kentucky youth detention center and its administrators, claiming that they were subjected to oppressive isolation, denied basic hygiene, showers, and medications, and forced to listen to a toddler song.Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
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Based on the classic Stephen King novel written under pen name Richard Bachman, The Running Man is set in an oppressive future where the government controls the media.Justin Kroll, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Attitude Era succeeded on the backs of all-time greats Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, with Vince McMahon a domineering force both behind the scenes and on camera.Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
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Taurus April 20 – May 20 You might currently be motivated to stand your ground against a domineering authority figure.Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Some media outlets are surrendering to Trump already This absurd boasting — arrogant without portfolio — is just what Trump is looking for in the VOA job.Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2024
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Angle was able to alter between arrogant heel and lovable goofball almost on a whim.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The declaration of a battle between democracy and autocracy came with exemptions for autocratic partners in places like Riyadh and New Delhi.Ben Rhodes, Foreign Affairs, 13 Dec. 2024
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And some worry that HTS could slide into it's own kind of autocratic regime.NPR, NPR, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical twin emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2024
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This has created a chain reaction throughout the Middle East of all those who want to be free from this oppressive and tyrannical regime.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Park, the next authoritarian president who ruled for 18 years, was shot dead in 1979 by his own intelligence chief, unleashing an era of turmoil and brutal dictatorial rule that left an indelible mark on the nation’s political psyche.Nectar Gan, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
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Winston Smith, the main character, only vaguely remembers the days before Big Brother assumed dictatorial power, when Airstrip One was still called England or Britain.Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 15 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near despotic
Cite this Entry
“Despotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despotic. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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