Despotism

Pronunciation: /dɛspətɪzəm/

Definitions of despotism

noun a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power

Example Sentences

A1 Despotism is a form of government where a single ruler has absolute power.

A2 The citizens rebelled against the despotism of the tyrannical king.

B1 The country's history was marked by periods of despotism and oppression.

B2 The overthrow of the dictator led to the end of despotism in the region.

C1 The philosopher wrote extensively about the dangers of despotism and the importance of democracy.

C2 The international community condemned the regime for its brutal despotism and human rights violations.

Examples of despotism in a Sentence

formal The country was under the rule of despotism for many years before transitioning to a democracy.

informal The people were tired of living under despotism and longed for more freedom.

slang Living under that leader's despotism was a nightmare.

figurative The despotism of social media algorithms dictates what content we see.

Grammatical Forms of despotism

• plural: despotisms
• comparative: more despotic
• superlative: most despotic
• present tense: despotizes
• future tense: will despotize
• perfect tense: has despotized
• continuous tense: is despotizing
• singular: despotism
• positive degree: despotic
• infinitive: to despotize
• gerund: despotizing
• participle: despotized

Origin and Evolution of despotism

First Known Use: 1500 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'despotism' originated from the Greek word 'despotes' meaning 'master' or 'lord'. It was used to describe a form of government where a single ruler holds absolute power and authority.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'despotism' has come to be associated with oppressive and tyrannical rule, often characterized by the abuse of power and lack of accountability. In modern usage, it is used to describe authoritarian regimes or governments with centralized control.