tyranny
noun
\
Definition of tyranny
1 : oppressive power every form of tyranny over the mind of man— Thomas Jefferson especially : oppressive power exerted by government the tyranny of a police state
2a : 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
4 : an oppressive, harsh, or unjust act : a tyrannical act workers who had suffered tyrannies
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms for tyranny
Synonyms
absolutism, authoritarianism, autocracy, czarism (also tsarism), despotism, dictatorship, totalitarianism
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of tyranny in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After all, the Nordic social democracies are still alive and kicking; historically, concentrating financial power in the state apparatus has often been an invitation to tyranny. — Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "The Liberal Media Can Have Ideological Diversity Without Conservatives," 6 May 2018 John Paul’s courageous voice for freedom over tyranny helped reduce the Berlin Wall to rubble and freed millions in Poland and across Eastern Europe. — Jamie Ducharme, Time, "Betsy DeVos Urges Ave Maria Grads to 'Embrace the Mess': Read the Full Text of Education Secretary's Commencement Speech," 5 May 2018 In February, the internet’s resident critic John Herrman wrote about the tyranny of the red dot. — Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "Why Is Everything So Hideous?," 2 May 2018 The international community has to ally with people, not despotism, in order to survive; tyrannies will leave one day, and only the people who struggle for freedom, justice and democracy will remain. — Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, "Tawakkol Karman Has Not Given Up On Yemen—And Neither Should You," 27 Mar. 2018 Where exactly is the line between normal government and tyranny? — Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Do We Need Assault Weapons in Case We Decide to Kill ‘Tyrannical’ Cops and Soldiers?," 22 Feb. 2018 But there has never been a time in this nation when there hasn’t been a very loud voice from both African-American and whites saying no, slavery is tyranny. — Lorraine Boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The Unheralded Pioneers of 19th-Century America Were Free African-American Families," 19 June 2018 Like the opposite of the tyranny so many of our neighbors fled Cuba to escape? — Greg Cote, miamiherald, "Let voters decide! Why Beckham group's soccer stadium plan deserves to be on ballot," 9 July 2018 Maxine] Waters’ fellow Democrats — including leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer — wrongly believe that tyranny can be combated with polite discourse. — Tauhid Chappell, Philly.com, "Supreme Courts decision could affect Pennsylvania politics, two casinos open in Atlantic city | Morning Newsletter," 28 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tyranny.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for tyranny
tyranny
noun
English Language Learners Definition of tyranny
: cruel and unfair treatment by people with power over others
: a government in which all power belongs to one person : the rule or authority of a tyrant
See the full definition for tyranny in the English Language Learners Dictionary
tyranny
noun
\
Kids Definition of tyranny
1 : an act or the pattern of harsh, cruel, and unfair control over other people
2 : a government in which all power is in the hands of a single ruler
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on tyranny
What made you want to look up tyranny? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz
-
- Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz
Words to improve your Scrabble game
Take the quiz -
Which Came First? Quiz
Do you know which word is older?
Take the quiz -
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz -
Dictionary Devil
The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?
Play the game
Share tyranny
Resources for tyranny