despotic
UK /disˈpɒt.ɪk/ · US /dɛsˈpɑt.ɪk/ adjective
Forms despotick
- adjective Of or pertaining to a despot or tyrant. “This despotic age of the empire ended in a revolt.”
- adjective Acting or ruling as a despot, tyrannical. “The despotic king dissolved the parliament, and took personal control of the country.”
Synonyms
bossy and arrogant despotical authoritarian autocratic dictatorial tyrannic tyrannical
Etymology
From Ancient Greek δεσποτικός (despotikós) via French despotique, equivalent to despot + -ic.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Having the character of, or pertaining to, a despot; absolute in power; possessing and abusing unlimited power; evincing despotism; tyrannical; arbitrary.
Etymology [Gr. despotique.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “despotic”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details