tyranny

[ tir-uh-nee ]

noun

, plural tyr·an·nies.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈtyrannous, adjective
• ˈtyrannously, adverb
• ˈtyrannousness, 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

It is a woeful abuse of history to claim the filibuster protects the minority from the tyranny of the majority.

From Vox

These tactics jettison a different kind of tyranny — the tyranny of the click — and leverage the duration of readers’ engagement instead.

From Digiday

Memory releases our mental life from the tyranny of the present moment.

From Popular-Science

We are here today to declare that we will never submit to tyranny.

From Washington Post

Lewis’s concept was that even that would be preferable to “omnipotent moral busybodies” being in charge, because he said that could lead to what “may be the most oppressive” form of tyranny.

From Washington Post

Applying the apartheid label is incorrect—and is also confusing because it obscures the tyranny which is in force.

From The Daily Beast

This platform can be a force multiplier for those struggling against tyranny.

From The Daily Beast

The Bill of Rights, and especially the First Amendment, were intended to protect the powerless from the tyranny of the powerful.

From The Daily Beast

In one fell swoop, the Supreme Court has constrained government power, expanded corporate rights, and protected religious tyranny.

From The Daily Beast

It also called for the establishment of laws and institutions that might protect minorities against the tyranny of the majority.

From The Daily Beast

The object of these scarli is to manifest the popular exultation at the annihilation of feudal tyranny.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Hutchinson was doubtless temperamentally less inclined to fear tyranny than anarchy.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet the Clarion opposes sweating and tyranny and hypocrisy, and does its best to defeat and to destroy them.

From Project Gutenberg

She thinks of politics, and of the tyranny of kings and nobles, and of the unjust inequalities of man.

From Project Gutenberg

Amid the perpetration of much bloodshed and tyranny, Christianity has certainly achieved some good.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• authoritarianism
• autocracy
• coercion
• cruelty
• despotism
• domination
• oligarchy
• oppression
• terrorism
• totalitarianism