tyranny

[tir-uh-nee]

noun

plural

tyrannies 

1. arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority.

   Synonyms: dictatorship, absolutism, despotism

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

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

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

5. undue severity or harshness.

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

tyranny

/ ˈtɪrənɪ /

noun

1. 1. government by a tyrant or tyrants; despotism

   2. similarly oppressive and unjust government by more than one person

2. arbitrary, unreasonable, or despotic behaviour or use of authority

   the teacher's tyranny

3. any harsh discipline or oppression

   the tyranny of the clock

4. a political unit ruled by a tyrant

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

6. a tyrannical act

Other Word Forms

• tyrannous adjective
• tyrannously adverb
• tyrannousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tyranny¹

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; tyrant, -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of tyranny¹

C14: from Old French tyrannie, from Medieval Latin tyrannia, from Latin tyrannus _tyrant

Example Sentences

He accused Fed leadership of “defending its mistakes instead of correcting them” and said the institution had fallen victim to “the tyranny of the status quo.”

Read more on Barron's

They appear stuck in what Milton Friedman called “the tyranny of the status quo.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“His commitment to protecting the principle of open dialogue and opposing tyranny has been a significant impact on our nation’s conversation.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“For generations,” he said, “Miami has been a haven for those fleeing communist tyranny in South Africa.”

Read more on Salon

The current incumbent, Sir Keir Starmer said of the moment: "We remember a generation who stood against tyranny and shaped our future. Their legacy is peace, and our duty is to protect it."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• authoritarianism www.thesaurus.com
• autocracy 
• coercion 
• cruelty 
• despotism 
• domination 
• oligarchy 
• oppression 
• terrorism 
• totalitarianism