despot

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But Ms. Hasina was also a classic despot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has replaced three top officials in charge of his personal security, Seoul said Tuesday, a sign the despot may increasingly fear assassination plots.

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

“We will never let the evil will of a sad, malignant despot dictate how we treat one another,” said the Greyhound Bar & Grill in Highland Park.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2025

In theory, it was created to empower everyday people and to prevent the consolidation of power by any one despot or monarch.

From Salon • Jan. 17, 2025

If my sister Rachel and Mr. William Shakespeare put their heads together to invent an extravagant despot, they couldn’t outdo Mobutu.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver