'Despot' definitions:
Definition of 'despot'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Despot'
From: 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]
Synonyms of 'despot'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- absolute monarch,
- absolute ruler,
- all-powerful ruler,
- arrogator,
- autarch,
- autocrat,
- caesar,
- commissar,
- czar,
- dictator,
- disciplinarian,
- driver,
- duce,
- hard master,
- martinet,
- oligarch,
- oppressor,
- pharaoh,
- Simon Legree,
- slave driver,
- stickler,
- strong man,
- tyrant,
- usurper,
- warlord