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Glite Dictionary
🏛️ A province 👑 Personal domain
satrapy

satrapy

9.9
An area controlled completely by one person, often in a bad way
  • noun
  • /ˈseɪtrəpi/
  • Literature
translation icon : satrapía
  • The king's satrapy demanded loyalty from all its subjects while offering little in return.

Examples

  • The dictator ruled over his satrapy with an iron fist, suppressing any dissent.

  • Many considered the neighboring country a satrapy of the larger, more powerful nation due to its lack of independence.

  • TROUBLE IN ASSAD'S SATRAPY

    Academic text (2011)

Antonyms

chaos
438 3.1

A situation with no order where people are confused and cannot act normally

anarchy
79 6.5

A situation with no government and much disorder

How Controlled

satrapy
  • Literature
9.9
fiefdom
9 9.6
domain
41 5.6

Surface Forms

satrapy singular
satrapies plural

Morphology

satrapy = satrap (semi-transparent) = satrap + y

The figurative sense 'area or sphere controlled by someone' is derivable from 'satrap' but involves a metaphorical extension and evaluative nuance.

Etymology

Satrapy also came to mean any area where one person has total control, like a 'private kingdom', because a satrap was the local ruler of a province, so calling something a satrapy often says that one person keeps all the power there.