tyranny
[ tir-uh-nee ]
/ ˈtɪr ə ni /
noun, plural tyr·an·nies.
arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority.
the government or rule of a tyrant or absolute ruler.
a state ruled by a tyrant or absolute ruler.
oppressive or unjustly severe government on the part of any ruler.
undue severity or harshness.
a cruel or harsh act or proceeding; an arbitrary, oppressive, or tyrannical action.
Origin of tyranny
OTHER WORDS FROM tyranny
pre·tyr·an·ny, noun, plural pre·tyr·an·nies.Words nearby tyranny
tyrannosaur,
tyrannosaurus,
tyrannosaurus rex,
tyrannous,
tyrannulet,
tyranny,
tyrant,
tyrant flycatcher,
tyre,
tyree,
tyrian
Example sentences from the Web for tyranny
British Dictionary definitions for tyranny
tyranny
/ (ˈtɪrənɪ) /
noun plural -nies
- government by a tyrant or tyrants; despotism
- similarly oppressive and unjust government by more than one person
arbitrary, unreasonable, or despotic behaviour or use of authority
the teacher's tyranny
any harsh discipline or oppression
the tyranny of the clock
a political unit ruled by a tyrant
(esp in ancient Greece) government by a usurper
a tyrannical act
Derived forms of tyranny
tyrannous, adjective tyrannously, adverb tyrannousness, nounWord Origin for tyranny
C14: from Old French
tyrannie, from Medieval Latin
tyrannia, from Latin
tyrannus
tyrant