Tyranny
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈtərəni/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Tyranny is a noun meaning The office or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler.
Meaning
The office or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler.
More Meanings
- Absolute power, or its use.
- A system of government in which power is exercised on behalf of the ruler or ruling class, without regard to the wishes of the governed.
- Extreme severity or rigour.
- A government in which a single ruler (a tyrant) has absolute power, or this system of government; especially, one that acts cruelly and unjustly.
Example Sentences
Control, dispossession, violence, and tyranny are not “defensive”: they are part of an organized, ongoing aggression.
He that with ſhepheards and a litle ſpoyle, Durſt in diſdaine of wrong and tyrannie, Defend his freedome gainſt a Monarchie: What will he doe ſupported by a king?
Word Forms
- tyrannies
Synonyms for tyranny
Depending on context, synonyms include autocracy, despotism, dictatorship, tyranthood, authoritarianism, absolutism.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include monocracy, despotism, dictatorship, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, absolutism.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.