despotism   (Sound)

The noun despotism has 2 senses

• absolutism, tyranny, despotism -- (dominance through threat of punishment and violence)


• dictatorship, absolutism, authoritarianism, Caesarism, despotism, monocracy, one-man rule, shogunate, Stalinism, totalitarianism, tyranny -- (a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.))