despot
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despot
A ruler with unrestricted, absolute power who exercises it arbitrarily and often cruelly. A tyrant or oppressive ruler.
Das Volk litt jahrelang unter der Schreckensherrschaft des Despoten.
The people suffered for years under the despot's reign of terror.
despot
In a figurative sense, a person who behaves in a domineering, authoritarian, and tyrannical way in their environment, e.g. family or workplace.
Unser Abteilungsleiter führt sich auf wie ein kleiner Despot und kontrolliert jede Kleinigkeit.
Our department head acts like a petty despot and controls every little detail.
The word 'Despot' (despot) belongs to a word family with the adjective 'despotisch' (despotic) and the noun 'Despotismus' (despotism). 'Despotisch' describes a person's behavior, while 'Despotismus' refers to the form of rule.
Sein Führungsstil wird von vielen als despotisch empfunden.
Many people perceive his leadership style as despotic.
'Despot' (despot) is a word with a very strong negative connotation. It expresses not only authority, but also arbitrariness and cruelty, and is used to strongly criticize someone.
Er wird von seinen Mitarbeitern hinter vorgehaltener Hand als Despot bezeichnet.
Behind closed doors, his employees refer to him as a despot.
In the historical or political meaning, 'Despot' (despot) is often combined with adjectives that emphasize his power and cruelty. Common combinations are 'ein grausamer Despot' (a cruel despot) or 'ein absoluter Despot' (an absolute despot).
Die Geschichte ist voll von Beispielen grausamer Despoten.
History is full of examples of cruel despots.
You can recognize the figurative meaning from the context. If people are talking about the workplace, the family, or a circle of friends, it usually means a domineering person in everyday life, not a political ruler.
In der Familie spielt er sich als kleiner Despot auf und will alles bestimmen.
In the family, he plays the petty despot and wants to decide everything.
dictator
Diktator and Despot can both refer to an authoritarian ruler with very extensive power. Diktator mainly emphasizes unlimited political power. Despot additionally stresses that the ruler exercises absolute power arbitrarily and often cruelly.
Nach dem Putsch herrscht der General als Despot, der willkürlich Menschen bestrafen lässt.
After the coup, the general rules as a despot who has people punished arbitrarily.
Nach dem Putsch herrscht der General als Diktator mit unbegrenzter Macht.
After the coup, the general rules as a dictator with unlimited power.
