What is the meaning of 'despotic'?

Answer 1

"Despotic" means a ruler or other person who holds absolute power. I think former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was described as despotic. It means acting like a despot, a tyrant or a dictator. It suggests not only having a large amount of power concentrated in the hands of one leader, but also that the leader uses that power arbitrarily, mercilessly, unjustly, or in certain cases to aid his nation.

Answer 2

The common meaning of "despotic" is an adjective referring to the tyrannical use of power, such as many dictators are known to do. It is also used, to a lesser degree, to refer to non-political authority figures who have an oppressive method of maintaining order (such as company bosses who are belligerent).

The word comes to us from the Greek word "despotes" which referred to a lord within the Byzantine Empire, often who ruled over a European country-sized piece of land for the Byzantine Emperor. Some despotates eventually became independent. At that point, the word had no negative connotation, but would gain it as these despotates would become increasingly autocratic prior to the Ottoman conquest.

Answer 3

An all-powerful monarch who exercises his powers arbitrarily and without care, often retaining his position through fear and brute force.