tyranny

American  

[tir-uh-nee] / ˈtɪr ə ni /

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.

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tyranny British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• tyrannous adjective
• tyrannously adverb
• tyrannousness noun

Etymology

Origin of tyranny

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

Example Sentences

Instead, they saw a “hopeful and enthusiastic working-class,” enjoying freedom from the “tyranny and incompetence of their former rulers” and “setting an example of industry and conduct” for all to emulate.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Klosterman doesn’t solve the riddle of football’s “all-encompassing tyranny” over fans.

From The Wall Street Journal

He understood journalism was a defense against tyranny.

From The Wall Street Journal

The tyranny of the status quo isn’t ending.

From MarketWatch

But even jaded readers will be startled by the scope of the self-organizing tyranny besetting the book world.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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