Tyranny

//ˈtərəni// noun

noun ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A government in which a single ruler (a tyrant) has absolute power, or this system of government; especially, one that acts cruelly and unjustly. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) wordnet
  3. 3
    The office or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    dominance through threat of punishment and violence wordnet
  5. 5
    Absolute power, or its use. countable, uncountable
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  1. 6
    A system of government in which power is exercised on behalf of the ruler or ruling class, without regard to the wishes of the governed. countable, uncountable

    "He that with ſhepheards and a litle ſpoyle, Durſt in diſdaine of wrong and tyrannie, Defend his freedome gainſt a Monarchie: What will he doe ſupported by a king?"

  2. 7
    Extreme severity or rigour. countable, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms
absolutismautocracydespotismdictatorshipdictatorshipabsolute monarchy

Example

More examples

"People in the country were living under a tyranny."

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English tirannye, from Old French tyrannie, from Medieval Latin tyrannia, tyrania, from Ancient Greek τυραννία (turannía, “tyranny”), from τύραννος (túrannos, “lord, master, sovereign, tyrant”).

Related phrases

anarcho-tyrannytyranny of the majoritytyranny of the massesdespot ruleevil rule

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.