despot

Noun
Synonyms: tyrantautocrat

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. a cruel and oppressive dictatorSynonyms: tyrantautocrat
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Despot \Des"pot\, n. [F. despote, LL. despotus, fr. Gr. despo`ths master, lord, the second part of which is akin to po`sis husband, and L. potens. See Potent.]

1.A master; a lord; especially, an absolute or irresponsible ruler or sovereign. [1913 Webster]

Irresponsible power in human hands so naturally leads to it, that cruelty has become associated with despot and tyrant.— C. J. Smith.[1913 Webster]

2.One who rules regardless of a constitution or laws; a tyrant. [1913 Webster]

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