despot
DES-putnounMeaning a ruler who uses total power cruelly
Memory hook DES-POT: he takes every POT. The cruel king marches into the village and takes every pot of soup for himself, leaving the people hungry. He is a despot.
In the legend, a despot took half of every farmer’s harvest.
In context Unlike his fair-minded father, the young king became a despot, jailing anyone who complained and raising taxes whenever he liked.
Similar tyrant, dictator, oppressor, autocrat
From Greek despotes, “master, lord.”