robber baron
noun
1
: an American capitalist of the latter part of the 19th century who became wealthy through exploitation (as of natural resources, governmental influence, or low wage scales)
2
: a business owner or executive who acquires wealth through ethically questionable tactics
Examples of robber baron in a Sentence
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On one hand, building space colonies is advice that multi-billionaire robber baron, Elon Musk, would heartily approve of, but Dr Gee’s recommendation feels more like a stopgap measure to me.
—
Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
The modern fiscal state, with its taxation power, its legitimate coercive authority, and its sheer capacity, is arguably the only institution capable of countering the astonishing power of our billionaire robber baron oligarch class.
— Made By History, Time, 16 Apr. 2025
Now, Pope Leo XIV inherits a world with new robber barons.
—Sonari Glinton, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
But unlike everything else, the Frick art museum is only now reopening in what was the house of Henry Clay Frick, who was the robber baron chairman of Carnegie Steel.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
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Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
The modern fiscal state, with its taxation power, its legitimate coercive authority, and its sheer capacity, is arguably the only institution capable of countering the astonishing power of our billionaire robber baron oligarch class.
— Made By History, Time, 16 Apr. 2025
Now, Pope Leo XIV inherits a world with new robber barons.
—Sonari Glinton, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
But unlike everything else, the Frick art museum is only now reopening in what was the house of Henry Clay Frick, who was the robber baron chairman of Carnegie Steel.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for robber baron
Cite this Entry
“Robber baron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robber%20baron. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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