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
Many Americans are demonstrably disgusted, shamed, and angered by their tyrants, but mainstream literary and intellectual institutions seem unable or unwilling to give voice to them.
—
Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Our tyrant locks up immigrants, comptrollers too, And sows chaos no matter the cost,
so, what’s a public theater to do,
To ensure that our democracy is not lost?
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 17 July 2025
Argentina’s lessons for the current moment are multiple: When tyrants threaten, more people and institutions may cower than resist; the loss of checks on state violence can be catastrophic; and no one knows who the next victim will be.
—Julia M. Klein, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tyrant
Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Our tyrant locks up immigrants, comptrollers too, And sows chaos no matter the cost,
so, what’s a public theater to do,
To ensure that our democracy is not lost?
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 17 July 2025
Argentina’s lessons for the current moment are multiple: When tyrants threaten, more people and institutions may cower than resist; the loss of checks on state violence can be catastrophic; and no one knows who the next victim will be.
—Julia M. Klein, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tyrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrant
dictator
Noun
-
So, this is all an opportunity for Donald Trump to play dictator in Washington, D.C.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Aug. 2025
-
This perception stems largely from the grip of the country’s dictator, Alexander Lukashenko.—
SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tyrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrant. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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