as in dictator
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
the people universally feared the tyrant, who was notorious for his frequent use of torture
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Recent Examples of tyrant
If anything, the story during the semiquincentennial casts George as more of a whole person than the tyrant depicted in the ad hominem complaints peppered throughout the Declaration of Independence.
—
Laurie Kellman,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
This year’s 250th anniversary events, commemorating America’s founders’ refusal to be bound by a tyrant, were supposed to be planned by a nonpartisan, nonprofit group created by Congress in 2016 via a bipartisan congressional caucus of more than 350 members.
—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
2 June 2026
Not that Eisenhower, to be fair, is presented here as quite such a tyrant.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 May 2026
This president, who called his treasonous supporters to arms, wants our tax dollars to compensate these tyrants.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tyrant
Laurie Kellman,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
This year’s 250th anniversary events, commemorating America’s founders’ refusal to be bound by a tyrant, were supposed to be planned by a nonpartisan, nonprofit group created by Congress in 2016 via a bipartisan congressional caucus of more than 350 members.
—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
2 June 2026
Not that Eisenhower, to be fair, is presented here as quite such a tyrant.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 May 2026
This president, who called his treasonous supporters to arms, wants our tax dollars to compensate these tyrants.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tyrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrant
dictator
Noun
-
And following the ousting of longtime dictator Bashir Al-Assad, Syria continues to have armed conflict and sectarian violence.
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The most dangerous weapon for a democracy to put in control of an aspiring dictator is not necessarily the police or the military.
Cite this Entry
“Tyrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrant. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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