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• Saddam Hussein
  Saddam Hussein

  noun

  See Hussein
• Hussein, Saddam
  Hussein, Saddam

  Dictator of Iraq who seized power in 1979. With the intent of making Iraq the dominant power in the oil-rich Persian Gulf, Hussein invaded Iran in 1980 and Kuwait in 1990. The latter invasion provoked a military response from the United Nations, led by the United States, which drove Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991. (See Persian Gulf War.)

Saddam Hussein

British  

/ sæˈdæm /

noun

1. See Hussein

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Hussein, Saddam Cultural  

1. Dictator of Iraq who seized power in 1979. With the intent of making Iraq the dominant power in the oil-rich Persian Gulf, Hussein invaded Iran in 1980 and Kuwait in 1990. The latter invasion provoked a military response from the United Nations, led by the United States, which drove Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991. (See Persian Gulf War.)

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Although widely loathed outside the Arab world and feared by most Arab governments, Hussein retains some of his appeal to the Arab masses because of his resolute defiance of the United States and western Europe.

Hussein's cruelty and deviousness have become legendary. He has ruthlessly suppressed both Shi'ite Muslims and Kurds within Iraq; in 1987 and 1988 he authorized poison gas attacks on Kurdish villages.

Example Sentences

Troops set up at the facility that dates back to the time of Saddam Hussein in the Najaf desert, one official said.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

The first Gulf War arguably had two winners: Saddam Hussein for surviving, the U.S. for kicking him out of Kuwait.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

In Iraq, Saddam Hussein built dozens of palaces for top-level Bath party officials, Republican Guard leadership, and members of his family and inner circle.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

Iraq is now in a much better state than it was in the immediate aftermath and many are glad to see Saddam Hussein gone.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

"You remember Saddam Hussein, the old Iraqi dictator?"

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda