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

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’s a critical check on presidential power, for an obvious reason: an army turned inward can quickly become an instrument of tyranny.

From Salon

"Global unity can triumph over trade tyranny," declared an editorial in the state-run newspaper China Daily, noting Beijing's collaborations with Japan, South Korea and other Asian economies.

From BBC

They were against big government; against what they saw as federal tyranny.

From Salon

Earlier on Tuesday, Bardella condemned the "tyranny of the judges" and said that "everything was being done to stop us from getting to power".

From BBC

Trump and his gang prance around, pretending they’ve come to slay the bureaucratic Leviathan, to liberate the people from the tyranny of big government.

From Salon

Related Words

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