despotic

/dɪˈspɒtɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈspɑːtɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /de-ˈspä-tik di-/ (ame, mw)

despotic — adjective

  • despoticpositive
  • more despoticcomparative
  • most despoticsuperlative

1. showing that a ruler or government has total power and uses it cruelly

1.形容詞C1
釋義

showing that a ruler or government has total power and uses it cruelly

例句

The despotic king jailed farmers who complained about the new tax.

collocation: despotic king

After the coup, the general became despotic and closed every newspaper.

pattern: become despotic

同義詞
  • tyrannical

    closest in meaning and strongly stresses cruelty in the use of power

  • authoritarian

    often stresses strict obedience and top-down control more than open cruelty

  • autocratic

    can be more neutral and can describe a controlling style outside state politics

  • dictatorial

    often points to rule like that of a dictator and is common in political reporting

反義詞
  • democratic

    suggests power is shared and leaders are answerable to the public

  • constitutional

    suggests power is limited by law rather than exercised without checks

  • accountable

    suggests leaders must explain and justify their decisions

文法句型

a despotic ruler

despotic government

become despotic

用法筆記

Most often describes rulers, governments, or leaders whose power is not effectively limited. Distinguish from 'autocratic', which can describe a controlling style more broadly; 'despotic' usually adds cruelty or abuse.

常見錯誤

❌Our math teacher is despotic because she gives too much homework.
✅Our math teacher is strict because she gives too much homework.
💡despotic is usually for people or systems exercising unchecked power, not ordinary strict behavior.
❌The school held a despotic election for class president.
✅The school was run in a despotic way by the principal.
💡despotic describes abusive rule or leadership, not the basic idea of an election.