Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a despotic manner; with unlimited power; arbitrarily.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a despotic manner.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word despotically.

Examples

  • ” he called despotically, and the teamster obeyed mechanically.

    Paras. 500–599 1917

  • Dear Dr ManderFor many years, I have presided despotically over a regime famed for its cruelty.

    Dr Gerry Mander: the therapist the stars trust 2011

  • And what reader does not feel the bone-chilling threat in his last paragraph, when he pronounces despotically “The Wall Street Journal will have to answer for the harm it has done”?

    Mr. Rangel Protests Too Much 2009

  • It isn't the majority of Scots who despotically hold sway over England and who deny us democracy, it's that corrupt political elite who smarm and lie about wanting social justice while knowingly and deliberately deny this to the people of England.

    Scottish End Game Newmania 2007

  • If with these ideas they go into civil and international law, as reason prescribes it, they take this step in a spirit of chicanery, for they still follow their accustomed mechanical routine of despotically imposed coercive laws in a field where only concepts of reason can establish a legal compulsion according to the principles of freedom, under which alone a just and durable constitution is possible.

    Balkinization 2006

  • If with these ideas they go into civil and international law, as reason prescribes it, they take this step in a spirit of chicanery, for they still follow their accustomed mechanical routine of despotically imposed coercive laws in a field where only concepts of reason can establish a legal compulsion according to the principles of freedom, under which alone a just and durable constitution is possible.

    Balkinization 2006

  • Once in power, Stark turns out to be as rotten as the rest, despotically ruling the state, cheating on his wife with campaign manager Sadie Burke (Mercedes McCambridge), and disposing of those who challenge his authority.

    John Farr: The 10 Best "Abuse of Power" Movies 2008

  • If with these ideas they go into civil and international law, as reason prescribes it, they take this step in a spirit of chicanery, for they still follow their accustomed mechanical routine of despotically imposed coercive laws in a field where only concepts of reason can establish a legal compulsion according to the principles of freedom, under which alone a just and durable constitution is possible.

    Balkinization 2006

  • Here in this miniature portrait of the way patriarchy relies upon illusion, Charles parodically plays the role of "oriental" eminence: he is static, sensuous, and passive, yet nevertheless despotically controls the female world around him.

    'Pleasure is now, and ought to be, your business': Stealing Sexuality in Jane Austen's _Juvenilia_ 2006

  • A lot uv boards are ruled despotically by a cupple of peeps, but ICHC wuz diffrunt.

    Impressionable Cat - Lolcats 'n' Funny Pictures of Cats - I Can Has Cheezburger? 2008

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.