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
The Middle East is a region of tyrants, from Iran to Saudi Arabia.
—
John Feffer, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
The greatest of all tyrants thunders onto screen in this thrilling story of fossil discovery by three young boys.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 8 Dec. 2024
Some tyrants just can’t resist meddling with the calendar.
—Jack Butler, National Review, 28 Nov. 2024
Elphaba has helped the two tyrants permanently transform the monkeys against their will, and worse, strengthened the ensuing crackdown against the animals; hence, Elphaba is horrified by her own actions and vows to stand against Oz from that point on.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
Movements, parties, and tyrants thrive on xenophobia—the word might be specifically Hellenic, but the sentiment is universal.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 22 Nov. 2024
Petty tyrants are trifling with science, national security, and the state’s economy.
—John Fund, National Review, 13 Oct. 2024
The man adores and tries to emulate dictators and tyrants.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 8 Oct. 2024
China and Russia will likely grow even more willing to use their influence on behalf of tyrants as great-power competition grows fiercer.
—Natasha Hall, Foreign Affairs, 9 Jan. 2023
John Feffer, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
The greatest of all tyrants thunders onto screen in this thrilling story of fossil discovery by three young boys.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 8 Dec. 2024
Some tyrants just can’t resist meddling with the calendar.
—Jack Butler, National Review, 28 Nov. 2024
Elphaba has helped the two tyrants permanently transform the monkeys against their will, and worse, strengthened the ensuing crackdown against the animals; hence, Elphaba is horrified by her own actions and vows to stand against Oz from that point on.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
Movements, parties, and tyrants thrive on xenophobia—the word might be specifically Hellenic, but the sentiment is universal.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 22 Nov. 2024
Petty tyrants are trifling with science, national security, and the state’s economy.
—John Fund, National Review, 13 Oct. 2024
The man adores and tries to emulate dictators and tyrants.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 8 Oct. 2024
China and Russia will likely grow even more willing to use their influence on behalf of tyrants as great-power competition grows fiercer.
—Natasha Hall, Foreign Affairs, 9 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrants
dictators
Noun
-
But from the onset, the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere after the United States was beset by armed conflict, foreign interventions, repressive dictators, political violence, and heads of state whose personal ambitions and desire for power fanned instability and revolts.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
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This was home to one of the most secretive dictators in the world, and now Syrians who were terrified to say anything about him are freely wandering around what was once his living room.—
Hadeel Al-Shalchi,
NPR,
25 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tyrants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrants. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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