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
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Recent Examples of tyrants
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
To add to the second-hand embarrassment, a gaudy amusement park proves a vital part of Homelander’s plan—after all, fascists and tyrants tend to have bad taste.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 14 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
Aspiring tyrants inevitably promise security and food on the table.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
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
To add to the second-hand embarrassment, a gaudy amusement park proves a vital part of Homelander’s plan—after all, fascists and tyrants tend to have bad taste.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 14 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
Aspiring tyrants inevitably promise security and food on the table.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrants
dictators
Noun
-
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.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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Blatter also suggested that Infantino, like a lot of dictators, has started acting withdrawn.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tyrants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrants. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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