despotism
/ˈdespətɪzəm/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈɛspətˌɪzəm] /ˈdespətɪzəm/ (ame, ipa) · [dˈɛspətˌɪzəm] /ˈde-spə-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce despotism (audio)/ (ame, mw)
despotism — noun
1. a way of governing in which one ruler keeps complete control and uses that power
a way of governing in which one ruler keeps complete control and uses that power in a harsh, unfair way
After the coup, the country slid into despotism and newspapers disappeared within weeks.
pattern: slide into despotism
Jin said the emergency law gave one minister a path toward despotism.
pattern: path toward despotism
Years of despotism left the villagers afraid to speak in public.
Renata's essay argued that unchecked armies can turn reform into despotism.
Students studied how despotism crushed local courts and silenced opposition leaders.
- autocracy
close in meaning, but more neutral and more focused on the structure of one-person rule
- dictatorship
the more common modern news word for a country ruled by one leader or group
- tyranny
stresses the suffering and injustice caused by cruel rule
- absolutism
more historical and often used for political theory rather than everyday criticism
- democracy
a system where leaders can be replaced and power is limited by elections and institutions
- constitutional government
government whose powers are restricted by law, not exercised without checks
文法句型
under despotism
into despotism
toward despotism
用法筆記
Usually refers to political rule by a ruler or regime, not to ordinary strict behaviour at home or work. It often appears in history or political analysis when a writer wants to stress both absolute power and cruelty.