plural tyrannies
1
: oppressive power
every form of tyranny over the mind of man—
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson2
a
: a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler
especially
: one characteristic of an ancient Greek city-state
b
: the office, authority, and administration of a tyrant
3
: a rigorous condition imposed by some outside agency or force
living under the tyranny of the clock—Dixon Wecter
Dixon Wecter4
: an oppressive, harsh, or unjust act : a tyrannical act
workers who had suffered tyrannies
Examples of tyranny in a Sentence
Cars freed Americans, already infamous for their mobility, from the tyranny of train schedules.
—Cynthia Crossen, Wall Street Journal, 7 May 2003
Berlin remains a central attraction, and the evanescence of tyranny is a highlight of the visit.
—William F. Buckley, Jr., National Review, 27 Sept. 1999
For in creating a cultural orthodoxy designed to combat racism, urban disorder, and a legacy of oppression, we subject ourselves to delusional dogma, the tyranny of conformity, and language that rings of fascist imagery.
—Gerald Early, Harper's, January 1997
The refugees were fleeing tyranny.
He was dedicated to ending the tyranny of slavery.
a nation ruled by tyranny
She felt lost in the bureaucratic tyrannies of the university system.
The king sought an absolute tyranny over the colonies.
Cynthia Crossen, Wall Street Journal, 7 May 2003
Berlin remains a central attraction, and the evanescence of tyranny is a highlight of the visit.
—William F. Buckley, Jr., National Review, 27 Sept. 1999
For in creating a cultural orthodoxy designed to combat racism, urban disorder, and a legacy of oppression, we subject ourselves to delusional dogma, the tyranny of conformity, and language that rings of fascist imagery.
—Gerald Early, Harper's, January 1997
The refugees were fleeing tyranny.
He was dedicated to ending the tyranny of slavery.
a nation ruled by tyranny
She felt lost in the bureaucratic tyrannies of the university system.
The king sought an absolute tyranny over the colonies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Such is the folly of an uninformed electorate, vulnerable and exploitable to the maxims of tyranny.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
And yet Boyle eschewed the convention, perhaps a sign that directors are trying, in different ways, to free themselves from the tyranny of the end-credits.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 11 July 2025
As Van Helsing, Titus Welliver gives a commanding, dead-eyed and stern performance while Brady Hepner as older son Max curries our sympathies for having to endure the tyranny of an obsessed father.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
In these instances, tyranny and corruption seep into the very fiber of our collective governance.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tyranny
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
And yet Boyle eschewed the convention, perhaps a sign that directors are trying, in different ways, to free themselves from the tyranny of the end-credits.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 11 July 2025
As Van Helsing, Titus Welliver gives a commanding, dead-eyed and stern performance while Brady Hepner as older son Max curries our sympathies for having to endure the tyranny of an obsessed father.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
In these instances, tyranny and corruption seep into the very fiber of our collective governance.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tyranny
Cite this Entry
“Tyranny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyranny. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tyranny
noun
tyr·an·ny
ˈtir-ə-nē 
plural tyrannies
1
: a government in which all power is in the hands of a single ruler
2
: harsh, cruel, and severe government or conduct
3
: a tyrannical act
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