plural tyrannies
1
: oppressive power
every form of tyranny over the mind of man—
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson2
a
: a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler
especially
: one characteristic of an ancient Greek city-state
b
: the office, authority, and administration of a tyrant
3
: a rigorous condition imposed by some outside agency or force
living under the tyranny of the clock—Dixon Wecter
Dixon Wecter4
: an oppressive, harsh, or unjust act : a tyrannical act
workers who had suffered tyrannies
Examples of tyranny in a Sentence
Cars freed Americans, already infamous for their mobility, from the tyranny of train schedules.
—Cynthia Crossen, Wall Street Journal, 7 May 2003
Berlin remains a central attraction, and the evanescence of tyranny is a highlight of the visit.
—William F. Buckley, Jr., National Review, 27 Sept. 1999
For in creating a cultural orthodoxy designed to combat racism, urban disorder, and a legacy of oppression, we subject ourselves to delusional dogma, the tyranny of conformity, and language that rings of fascist imagery.
—Gerald Early, Harper's, January 1997
The refugees were fleeing tyranny.
He was dedicated to ending the tyranny of slavery.
a nation ruled by tyranny
She felt lost in the bureaucratic tyrannies of the university system.
The king sought an absolute tyranny over the colonies.
Cynthia Crossen, Wall Street Journal, 7 May 2003
Berlin remains a central attraction, and the evanescence of tyranny is a highlight of the visit.
—William F. Buckley, Jr., National Review, 27 Sept. 1999
For in creating a cultural orthodoxy designed to combat racism, urban disorder, and a legacy of oppression, we subject ourselves to delusional dogma, the tyranny of conformity, and language that rings of fascist imagery.
—Gerald Early, Harper's, January 1997
The refugees were fleeing tyranny.
He was dedicated to ending the tyranny of slavery.
a nation ruled by tyranny
She felt lost in the bureaucratic tyrannies of the university system.
The king sought an absolute tyranny over the colonies.
Recent Examples on the Web
What happened in Anaheim a century ago shows how to combat tyranny and white supremacy — and also that the work is never really done.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025
The monster was the liberation from the tyranny of image.
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2025
This exuberant début poetry collection recasts the titular heroine as an Appalachian housewife reckoning with the tyrannies of beauty, domesticity, and small-town gossip during the late twentieth century.
—The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Similarly, the story of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, epitomizes the power of hope to defy tyranny and oppression.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tyranny
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025
The monster was the liberation from the tyranny of image.
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2025
This exuberant début poetry collection recasts the titular heroine as an Appalachian housewife reckoning with the tyrannies of beauty, domesticity, and small-town gossip during the late twentieth century.
—The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Similarly, the story of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, epitomizes the power of hope to defy tyranny and oppression.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tyranny
Articles Related to tyranny
Cite this Entry
“Tyranny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyranny. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tyranny
noun
tyr·an·ny
ˈtir-ə-nē 
plural tyrannies
1
: a government in which all power is in the hands of a single ruler
2
: harsh, cruel, and severe government or conduct
3
: a tyrannical act
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share