as in dictators
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of tyrants
Aegon, dragged out of King’s Landing by spymaster Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) in an effort to save him from the fratricidal Aemond, gets an up-close look at the petty tyrants who have sprouted up in the countryside thanks to his impetuous rule.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
Examples range from businesses like Enron, Tyco, and Bernie Madoff, along with historical tyrants like Stalin or Hitler to modern figures like Putin, and industries like tobacco that knowingly harm users for profit.
—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
This president, who called his treasonous supporters to arms, wants our tax dollars to compensate these tyrants.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Because, after all, as in all of Haber’s novels, the point is not really what is happening in the world but what is happening in the mind—in this case the mind of the pettiest of tyrants.
—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.
—
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
Ready to meet the season's new allies, enemies, tyrants, and giants?
—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
At the time, Athens had just emerged from a period of dictatorship and some of his students had been among the tyrants who sought to take down Athens’ democracy.
—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
All kings and tyrants fail in the end.
—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
Examples range from businesses like Enron, Tyco, and Bernie Madoff, along with historical tyrants like Stalin or Hitler to modern figures like Putin, and industries like tobacco that knowingly harm users for profit.
—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
This president, who called his treasonous supporters to arms, wants our tax dollars to compensate these tyrants.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Because, after all, as in all of Haber’s novels, the point is not really what is happening in the world but what is happening in the mind—in this case the mind of the pettiest of tyrants.
—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.
—
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
Ready to meet the season's new allies, enemies, tyrants, and giants?
—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
At the time, Athens had just emerged from a period of dictatorship and some of his students had been among the tyrants who sought to take down Athens’ democracy.
—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
All kings and tyrants fail in the end.
—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrants
dictators
Noun
-
Will people who flee dictators and endless poverty be permitted lawfully to cross America’s shores and borders in search of a better life?
-
Russian athletes are routinely asked to answer for the actions of their government, yet athletes from other countries are rarely subjected to the same scrutiny or treated as though they are personally aligned with war criminals or dictators.
Cite this Entry
“Tyrants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrants. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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