of or like a despot; autocratic; tyrannical
also des·pot′i·cal
Origin of despotic
French despotique from Classical Greek despotikos
adjective
The definition of despotic is something associated with or typically attributed to a despot, or a cruel and oppressive ruler.
An example of despotic used as an adjective is the phrase despotic killing which is the act of killing anyone who disagrees with your political position.
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despotic
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"Despotic." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/DESPOTIC.
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Despotic. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DESPOTIC
Adjective
(comparative more despotic, superlative most despotic)
- Of or pertaining to a despot or tyrant.
- This despotic age of the empire ended in a revolt.
- Acting or ruling as a despot, tyrannical.
- The despotic king dissolved the parliament, and took personal control of the country.
Origin
From Ancient Greek δεσποτικός (despotikos) via French despotique.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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MLA Style
"Despotic." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/DESPOTIC.
APA Style
Despotic. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DESPOTIC
Sentence Examples
- In other cases a more despotic monarchy has grown up - the prowess of one man leading to the subjugation of other clans.
- Men thought him more cruel and more despotic than he actually was.
- The Prussian people were keenly irritated by the cordial relations between their court and the most despotic power in Europe.
- The Internet is still able to be "turned off" by despotic rulers.
- Was to establish Roman Catholicism, and to make himself despotic in England, with the help of the French king.
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WORDS NEAR despotic IN THE DICTIONARY
- despotic
- despotat
- despotate
- despotates