English Meaning & Definitions
Cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary government or rule by a person or group with absolute power.
- “The citizens rose up to overthrow the tyranny of the military regime.”
- “She fought against the tyranny of her own insecurities.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “tyranny”.
Derived from the Old French 'tyrannie', which comes from the Latin 'tyrannia', and ultimately from the Greek 'tyrannos', meaning 'absolute ruler' or 'usurper'. Originally, the term did not necessarily imply cruelty, but rather referred to a ruler who seized power without constitutional right, though it evolved to denote oppressive and unjust governance.
Think of a 'tyrant' (a cruel ruler) who runs a 'tyranny'.
Frequently Asked Questions About “tyranny”
1. What is the meaning of “tyranny” in English?
In English, tyranny (noun) is defined as: “Cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary government or rule by a person or group with absolute power.”.
2. How do you use “tyranny” in a sentence?
“The citizens rose up to overthrow the tyranny of the military regime.”
3. What are English synonyms of “tyranny”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “tyranny”?
Derived from the Old French 'tyrannie', which comes from the Latin 'tyrannia', and ultimately from the Greek 'tyrannos', meaning 'absolute ruler' or 'usurper'. Originally, the term did not necessarily imply cruelty, but rather referred to a ruler who seized power without constitutional right, though it evolved to denote oppressive and unjust governance.
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
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A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.