noun
despot
DEHS-pot
noun
1
A ruler who holds total power and often uses it cruelly or unfairly; a tyrant.
"The country suffered for decades under a brutal despot."
"History remembers him as a paranoid despot who trusted no one."
How to Use Despot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA ruler with unchecked power, usually used negatively for someone who abuses it.
Common pairings
a brutal despot
ruthless despot
act like a despot
Word Forms
despots plural
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The country suffered for decades under a brutal _____.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek despotes, "master" or "lord", via French and Medieval Latin.