tyrant

noun

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ty·rant | \ ˈtī-rənt

Definition of tyrant

1a : an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution

b : a usurper of sovereignty

2a : a ruler who exercises absolute power oppressively or brutally

b : one resembling an oppressive ruler in the harsh use of authority or power

Synonyms What makes someone a tyrant? Example Sentences Learn More about tyrant

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What makes someone a tyrant?

A glance at the comments posted in response to our definition of tyrant illustrate two things: the word has a fairly wide spectrum of meaning, and many political rulers of late (regardless of party and action) are thought by some to merit this description. The word is often now found used as a generalized term of reproach ("he was a real tyrant in the kitchen"), and also with more specific denotation ("the tyrant suspended the country’s judicial code"). The definitions we give for words match, as best as possible, the manner in which these words are used. We cannot offer judgment on whether or not any specific individual is or is not a tyrant.

Examples of tyrant in a Sentence

Our boss is a real tyrant. the people universally feared the tyrant, who was notorious for his frequent use of torture

Recent Examples on the Web And it was used frequently in the 480s B.C. to exile the family and supporters of Athens’s previous tyrant, Hippias. — Grant Addison, Washington Examiner, "Then and Now: Ostracism," 4 Feb. 2021 In another, the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is portrayed as Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, a brutal tyrant who burned books and executed scholars more than 2,000 years ago. — New York Times, "As Trump Clashes With Big Tech, China’s Censored Internet Takes His Side," 15 Jan. 2021 Private companies have shown themselves able to act far more nimbly than our government, imposing consequences on a would-be tyrant who has until now enjoyed a corrosive degree of impunity. — Star Tribune, "Tech titans are using their power well," 12 Jan. 2021 Another approach is pacifism, which, for all its merits, asks us to condemn both the tyrant and those violently resisting tyranny. — Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, "America’s War on Syrian Civilians," 14 Dec. 2020 The assistant weighs her moral culpability with the stresses of her job working under a tyrant and the promise of career advancement. — Eliana Dockterman, Time, "Pop Culture Reckoned With #MeToo in Radical New Ways in 2020—Even as It Receded From Headlines," 22 Dec. 2020 And a vain tyrant destroying his realm with incompetence carries the satirical whiff of a certain Very Stable Genius. — Washington Post, "Michel Faber’s ‘D’ is a quirky adventure for readers young and old," 14 Dec. 2020 Grosz subsided into satirical painting and drawing, but Heartfield became a dedicated propagandist who cast Hitler as a puppet of capitalism and savaged centrist opposition to the tyrant’s rise. — Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, "What Are Artists For?," 21 Dec. 2020 The political newcomer has called Gov. Greg Abbott a tyrant for closing businesses in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19 and has pledged to rein in his power. — Dallas News, "Rep. Drew Springer takes early lead over Shelley Luther in North Texas Senate race," 20 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tyrant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.