tyranny

[ tir-uh-nee ]
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noun,plural tyr·an·nies.
  1. arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority.

  2. the government or rule of a tyrant or absolute ruler.

  1. a state ruled by a tyrant or absolute ruler.

  2. oppressive or unjustly severe government on the part of any ruler.

  3. undue severity or harshness.

  4. a cruel or harsh act or proceeding; an arbitrary, oppressive, or tyrannical action.

Origin of tyranny

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English tyrannie, from Old French, from Medieval Latin tyrannia, equivalent to Latin tyrann(us) “oppressive ruler” + -ia noun suffix; see tyrant, -y3

Other words for tyranny

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How to use tyranny in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tyranny

tyranny

/ (ˈtɪrənɪ) /


nounplural -nies
    • government by a tyrant or tyrants; despotism

    • similarly oppressive and unjust government by more than one person

  1. arbitrary, unreasonable, or despotic behaviour or use of authority: the teacher's tyranny

  1. any harsh discipline or oppression: the tyranny of the clock

  2. a political unit ruled by a tyrant

  3. (esp in ancient Greece) government by a usurper

  4. a tyrannical act

Origin of tyranny

1
C14: from Old French tyrannie, from Medieval Latin tyrannia, from Latin tyrannus tyrant

Derived forms of tyranny

  • tyrannous, adjective
  • tyrannously, adverb
  • tyrannousness, noun

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