despotical
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Belonging to or having the characteristics of a despot: Describing a person, government, or system that exercises absolute power, often in a cruel and oppressive way. It implies tyranny and the absence of constitutional or legal restraints.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The country suffered under a despotical regime for decades.
- Historians describe the ruler's methods as thoroughly despotical.
- His despotical control over the committee stifled all dissent.
Advanced Usage
- "despotical rule/authority": Refers to governance characterized by absolute, often arbitrary, power.
- The revolution aimed to overthrow the king's despotical rule.
- "despotical tendencies": Suggests an inclination toward exercising power in an autocratic manner.
- Even in a democracy, leaders can sometimes show despotical tendencies.
Variants and Related Words
- Despotic (adj): The more common variant with identical meaning.
- The despotic emperor was feared by all.
- Despot (n): A ruler or person who wields absolute power, often oppressively.
- The despot ignored the pleas of his people.
- Despotism (n): A system of government or a state where a single ruler has absolute power.
- The nation lived under despotism for generations.
Synonyms
- Tyrannical: Exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way.
- Autocratic: Relating to a ruler who has absolute power.
- Oppressive: Unjustly inflicting hardship and constraint.
- Absolute: Not limited by restrictions or checks (on power).
Antonyms
- Democratic: Relating to or supporting democracy.
- Constitutional: Limited by or adhering to a constitution.
- Liberal: Favoring individual liberty and moderate political reform.
Related Phrases and Concepts
- "despotical sway": (Archaic/Literary) Refers to the domain or influence of a despot.
- The entire region fell under his despotical sway.
- "arbitrary and despotical": A phrase often used in political philosophy to condemn power that is both absolute and based on personal whim.
- The colonists protested against what they saw as arbitrary and despotical laws.
Adjective
- belonging to or having the characteristics of a despot