despotism | ||
1. | [ noun ] (government) dominance through threat of punishment and violence | |
Synonyms: | tyranny absolutism | |
Related terms: | dominance | |
2. | [ noun ] (politics,government) a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) | |
Synonyms: | dictatorship tyranny Stalinism monocracy Caesarism one-man_rule shogunate totalitarianism authoritarianism absolutism | |
Related terms: | autocracy police_state | |
Similar spelling: |
despot despotic despotical despite decapod |