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

Whether we spend another century wandering in the wilderness of tyranny and bigotry is, in part, up to us.

From Salon

The earliest on the program, “Jefferson and Liberty” from 1800, included the verse: “Here strangers from thousand shores/Compell’d by tyranny to roam;/Shall find, amidst abundant stores,/A nobler and a happier home.”

From Los Angeles Times

“That principle as much as any other distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it.”

From Salon

Nobody likes a Quisling, or, at least, very few people would want to be seen as an eager lickspittle to tyranny.

From Salon

Vance also drew a distinction between the Christian far-right and what he called “real religious tyranny” of Muslim immigrants who “don’t necessarily assimilate into Western values.”

From Salon

Related Words

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