3 definitions
for despotic
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Despotic \Des*pot"ic\, Despotical \Des*pot"ic*al\, a. [Gr.
despotiko`s: cf. F. despotique.]
Having the character of, or pertaining to, a despot; absolute
in power; possessing and abusing unlimited power; evincing
despotism; tyrannical; arbitrary. -- Des*pot"ic*al*ly, adv.
-- Des*pot"ic*al*ness, n.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 :
despotic
adj 1: belonging to or having the characteristics of a despot [syn:
despotical]
2: ruled by or characteristic of a despot; "moved from a feudal
to a despotic order"; "his administration was arrogant and
despotic"
3: characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having
absolute sovereignty; "an authoritarian regime";
"autocratic government"; "despotic rulers"; "a dictatorial
rule that lasted for the duration of the war"; "a
tyrannical government" [syn: authoritarian, autocratic,
dictatorial, tyrannical]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :
65 Moby Thesaurus words for "despotic":
absolute, absolutist, absolutistic, arbitrary, aristocratic,
arrogant, autarchic, authoritarian, authoritative, autocratic,
autonomous, bossy, bureaucratic, civic, civil, constitutional,
democratic, dictatorial, domineering, fascist, federal, federalist,
federalistic, feudal, governmental, grinding, gubernatorial,
heteronomous, high-handed, imperative, imperial, imperious, lordly,
magisterial, magistral, masterful, matriarchal, matriarchic,
monarchal, monarchial, monarchic, monocratic, official, oligarchal,
oligarchic, oppressive, overbearing, overruling, parliamentarian,
parliamentary, patriarchal, patriarchic, peremptory, pluralistic,
political, repressive, republican, self-governing, severe, strict,
suppressive, theocratic, totalitarian, tyrannical, tyrannous
