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
Orwell’s warnings apply across the board, not just when obvious despots and lackeys let their fascist flags fly.
—
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Gerhard Siegel earns the audience’s gratitude by singing Herod not as a weak-willed despot but as a comically lascivious burgher out of Rosenkavalier.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025
In 1996, the end of the Cold War had radically altered the dynamics propping up a generation of African despots.
—Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
Our foundational document, held and displayed in the National Archives building on the National Mall, insists that all men are created equal and rails against the tyranny of despots and kings.
—Elaine Weiss, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despot
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Gerhard Siegel earns the audience’s gratitude by singing Herod not as a weak-willed despot but as a comically lascivious burgher out of Rosenkavalier.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025
In 1996, the end of the Cold War had radically altered the dynamics propping up a generation of African despots.
—Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
Our foundational document, held and displayed in the National Archives building on the National Mall, insists that all men are created equal and rails against the tyranny of despots and kings.
—Elaine Weiss, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despot
Noun
-
The message would then be clear: The Russian tyrant won’t break Ukraine.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
King George is a tyrant who is unfit to lead people.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
Talks between Israel and Syria are ongoing, which would have been unthinkable during the reign of former dictator Bashar al-Assad, whose partnership with Iran and insistence that Israel hand over the Golan Heights to Damascus in exchange for normalization nipped any détente in the bud.—
Daniel R. DePetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
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The uniform marks him as a firefighter from the old regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December 2024 after a nearly 14-year civil war.—
Lauren Frayer,
NPR,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despot. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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