tyrant

[ tahy-ruhnt ]

noun

1. a sovereign or other ruler who uses power oppressively or unjustly.

   Synonyms: dictator, autocrat, despot

2. any person in a position of authority who exercises power oppressively or despotically.
3. a tyrannical or compulsory influence.
4. an absolute ruler, especially one in ancient Greece or Sicily.

tyrant

/ ˈtaɪrənt /

noun

1. a person who governs oppressively, unjustly, and arbitrarily; despot
2. any person who exercises authority in a tyrannical manner
3. anything that exercises tyrannical influence
4. (esp in ancient Greece) a ruler whose authority lacked the sanction of law or custom; usurper

Other Words From

• under·tyrant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tyrant¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English tirant, from Old French, earlier tiran (with the addition of t by association with -ant ( def ) ), from Latin tyrannus, from Greek týrannos, of uncertain origin, perhaps Anatolian

Word History and Origins

Origin of tyrant¹

C13: from Old French tyrant, from Latin tyrannus, from Greek turannos

Example Sentences

You can do the right thing for once in your lives and discharge this petty tyrant.

From The Daily Beast

The refugee parent fleeing from the tyrant regime loses family all at once, in the space of a five-hour flight to Qatar.

From Time

State actors who reflect the real world are “criminals” who are “lying” and equivalent to tyrants and dictators.

From Washington Post

He later said he was terrible at the job, perpetually frightened by his boss, who “behaved like a tyrant on the set.”

From Washington Post

SovCits believe the feds are illegitimate tyrants who trick us into giving away our freedom by signing official documents.

From Ozy

Twelve-year-old dance prodigy Maddie Ziegler has suffered the wrath of Dance Moms tyrant Abby Lee Miller.

From The Daily Beast

On Christmas weekend, a North Korean tyrant has decided what American teenagers will see on the silver screen.

From The Daily Beast

After clashing with coach Victor Tikhonov, a KGB-installed tyrant, he chose to challenge the government and defect to the NHL.

From The Daily Beast

Rivers continued on her political, authoritarian monologue by describing what kind of tyrant she would be.

From The Daily Beast

And that isn't even the biggest political problem with Tyrant.

From The Daily Beast

In the meantime, the outlaw, having observed how much more cordially the tyrant is received than himself, has made his exit.

From Project Gutenberg

To remove a tyrant is an act of liberation, the giving of life and opportunity to an oppressed people.

From Project Gutenberg

The removal of a tyrant is not merely justifiable; it is the highest duty of every true revolutionist.

From Project Gutenberg

But the killing of a tyrant, of an enemy of the People, is in no way to be considered as the taking of a life.

From Project Gutenberg

The superstitious tyrant Maximin endeavoured to revive the dying paganism, and to renew the persecution.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• autocrat
• bully
• despot
• dictator
• oppressor