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Definition of despotism

despotism

/ˈdɛs.pə.tɪ.zəm/
des · pot · is · m
Adverb:despotically
•
Plural:despotisms
•
Adjective:despotic
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despotism Lexical Profile

despotism Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel, oppressive, and arbitrary manner.

Example

"The citizens organized peaceful protests to resist the growing despotism of the regime."

2

A country, state, or political system ruled by a despot with unchecked authority.

Example

"Historians studied how the ancient empire functioned as a centralized despotism for centuries."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

despondently
despot
despotic
despotism
dessert
dessertspoon
destabilization

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 18th century from French despotisme, derived from Medieval Latin despota and Ancient Greek despótēs ('master of the house, lord, absolute ruler').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Despotism. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/despotism
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