despotism

des·pot·ism  (dsp-tzm)

n.

1. Rule by or as if by a despot; absolute power or authority.

2. The actions of a despot; tyranny.

3.

a. A government or political system in which the ruler exercises absolute power: "Kerensky has a place in history, of a brief interlude between despotisms" (William Safire).

b. A state so ruled.

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despotism

Noun

1. absolute or tyrannical government

2. tyrannical behaviour

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despotism

1. a form of government with a ruler having absolute authority; autocracy.
2. a system ruled by a tyrant or dictator having absolute, usually oppressive power. — despot, n. — despotic, adj.

See also: Government

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	despotism - dominance through threat of punishment and violence absolutism, tyranny ascendance, ascendancy, ascendence, ascendency, dominance, control - the state that exists when one person or group has power over another; "her apparent dominance of her husband was really her attempt to make him pay attention to her"
	2.	despotism - a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) authoritarianism, Caesarism, dictatorship, monocracy, one-man rule, shogunate, Stalinism, totalitarianism, tyranny, absolutism autocracy, autarchy - a political system governed by a single individual police state - a country that maintains repressive control over the people by means of police (especially secret police)

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despotism

noun tyranny, dictatorship, oppression, totalitarianism, autocracy, absolutism, autarchy, monocracy