tyranny

noun

tyr·​an·​ny ˈtir-ə-nē How to pronounce tyranny (audio)
plural tyrannies
1
: oppressive power
every form of tyranny over the mind of manThomas Jefferson
especially : oppressive power exerted by government
the tyranny of a police state
2
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 clockDixon Wecter
4
: 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.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Annotated Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language declared Americans free from the tyranny of British institutions and their vocabularies. JSTOR Daily, 8 Jan. 2025 Transferring that depth to television, particularly to predominantly Black characters in a Caribbean country, especially one as fabled as Jamaica, to confront the tyranny of homophobia while also sustaining a conversation with the U.K. about its tainted legacy of colonialism, is bold and visionary. Ronda Racha Penrice, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025 The same impulse undergirds Georgians’ repeatedly expressed preference for liberal democracy, which is valued not only on its own terms but also as a bulwark against Russian-style tyranny. Christian Caryl, Foreign Affairs, 26 Dec. 2024 In fun’s place, Scott brings the grit and grime of 12th-century England to life and places Russell Crowe’s Robin at the center of a battle against royal tyranny, albeit without wealth redistribution on his agenda. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tyranny 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tyrannie, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin tyrannia, from Latin tyrannus tyrant

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tyranny was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tyranny

Cite this Entry

“Tyranny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyranny. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

tyranny

noun
tyr·​an·​ny ˈtir-ə-nē How to pronounce tyranny (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on tyranny

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