robber baron

Frequency: 6.78.9 per million words

a derogatory term for a powerful 19th-century American industrialist.

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Examples (10)

  • The term robber baron was coined in the 19th century to describe industrialists who became wealthy through ruthless means.
  • Historians still debate whether figures like Cornelius Vanderbilt were innovators or simply greedy robber barons.
  • Many accused the railroad tycoon of being a robber baron who exploited workers and crushed competition.
  • The Gilded Age saw the rise of the so-called robber barons, who controlled vast sectors of the American economy.
  • A documentary explored the complex legacy of the American robber baron, highlighting both innovation and unethical practices.
  • Some modern critics refer to certain tech CEOs as the new robber barons of the digital age.
  • His biography paints him not as a visionary but as a classic robber baron who built his empire on the backs of the poor.
  • The professor's lecture focused on how the robber barons' monopolistic tactics shaped modern capitalism.
  • While some celebrated his success, others saw him as nothing more than a ruthless robber baron.
  • The museum's exhibit critically examines the influence and power of the Gilded Age's robber barons.