Muammar al-Qaddafi is best known as the late Libyan dictator who ruled his country for 42 years with an iron fist. However, there are other terms that could be used to describe him. Synonyms for Muammar al-Qaddafi could be tyrant, despot, autocrat, or strongman. These words all imply a person who wields absolute power over their subjects, often at the expense of their human rights and freedoms. Qaddafi was infamous for his human-rights abuses, including torture, disappearances, and extrajudicial executions. His reign was marked by corruption, nepotism, and disregard for the rule of law. While he may have been seen as a hero to some in Libya, for many, he was a symbol of oppression and brutality.