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
Synonyms
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
Finally, the opportunity has come for you to be liberated from its tyranny.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 19 Oct. 2024
That creates a tyranny of the minority, opponents argue.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 12 Oct. 2024
This tyranny will be even greater felt if either a victorious GOP or the Democrats overturn the filibuster rule of 60 votes to muscle sweeping legislation out of the Senate.
—Stephen Moore, Orange County Register, 6 Oct. 2024
That is not tyranny; that is a fair measure of the will of the citizens.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tyranny 
Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 19 Oct. 2024
That creates a tyranny of the minority, opponents argue.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 12 Oct. 2024
This tyranny will be even greater felt if either a victorious GOP or the Democrats overturn the filibuster rule of 60 votes to muscle sweeping legislation out of the Senate.
—Stephen Moore, Orange County Register, 6 Oct. 2024
That is not tyranny; that is a fair measure of the will of the citizens.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tyranny
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tyranny.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near tyranny
Cite this Entry
“Tyranny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyranny. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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
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