Standard Lemma guide

despotic

adj · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /disˈpɒt.ɪk/
  • UK: /dɛsˈpɒt.ɪk/
  • UK: /dəˈspɒt.ɪk/
  • US: /dɛsˈpɑt.ɪk/
  • rhymes with -ɒtɪk
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 S P AA1 T IH0 K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of or pertaining to a despot or tyrant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • This despotic age of the empire ended in a revolt.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Acting or ruling as a despot, tyrannical.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The despotic king dissolved the parliament, and took personal control of the country.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

belonging to or having the characteristics of a despot

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: despotical

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an authoritarian regime
  • autocratic government
  • despotic rulers
  • a dictatorial rule that lasted for the duration of the war
  • a tyrannical government

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: authoritarian, autocratic, dictatorial, tyrannic, tyrannical

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

ruled by or characteristic of a despot

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • moved from a feudal to a despotic order
  • his administration was arrogant and despotic

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek δεσποτικός (despotikós) via French despotique, equivalent to despot + -ic.

Across languages

Translations

35 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: деспоти́чен (despotíčen) — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Catalan: despòtic — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Czech: despotický — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Danish: despotisk — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Esperanto: despota — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Finnish: itsevaltainen — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Finnish: despoottinen — of or pertaining to a despot
  • French: despotique — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Georgian: დესპოტური (desṗoṭuri) — of or pertaining to a despot
  • German: despotisch — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Ancient Greek: δεσποτικός (despotikós) — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Hungarian: zsarnoki — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Hungarian: despotikus — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Neapolitan: dispoteco — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Polish: despotyczny — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Portuguese: despótico — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Romanian: despotic — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Russian: деспоти́ческий (despotíčeskij) — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Scottish Gaelic: aintighearnail — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Spanish: despótico — of or pertaining to a despot
  • Bulgarian: деспоти́чен (despotíčen) — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Catalan: despòtic — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Czech: despotický — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Danish: despotisk — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Dutch: despotisch — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Finnish: itsevaltainen — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Finnish: despoottinen — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Georgian: დესპოტური (desṗoṭuri) — acting or ruling as a despot
  • German: despotisch — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Ancient Greek: δεσποτικός (despotikós) — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Polish: despotyczny — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Portuguese: despótico — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Romanian: despotic — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Russian: деспоти́чный (despotíčnyj) — acting or ruling as a despot
  • Scottish Gaelic: aintighearnail — acting or ruling as a despot