tyrant

noun

ty·​rant ˈtī-rənt 

1

a

: an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution

b

: a usurper of sovereignty

2

a

: a ruler who exercises absolute power oppressively or brutally

b

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

a tyrant of a boss

Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion.

—Henry David Thoreau

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms of tyrant

• dictator

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

Credit perhaps goes to Belew’s fellowship with Zappa, or Fripp’s growing resistance to being pegged as some humorless tyrant. —Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 11 Jan. 2026

Remove the tyrant, democracy flowers. —Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026

As in Syria, no one can predict what will follow the fall of a tyrant, but now there is hope where before there was none. —Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026

After more than a century of plunder and strife, under tyrants as diverse as King Leopold II of Belgium and Mobutu Sese Seko, the present-day DRC still occupies the dark heart of the continent in much of the world’s imagination. —Holden Frith, TheWeek, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tyraunt, from Anglo-French tyran, tyrant, from Latin tyrannus, from Greek tyrannos

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tyrant

• tyrant flycatcher

Kids Definition

tyrant

noun

ty·​rant ˈtī-rənt 

1

: a ruler who has no legal limits on his or her power by law or constitution

2

a

: a ruler who exercises total power harshly or cruelly

b

: a person who uses authority or power harshly