noun

tyranny

/ˈtɪrəni/ · say it: TIR·uh·nee

cruel and oppressive government or rule

In Politics & Diplomacy

In more detail

1. (noun) cruel and unfair treatment by someone in power

2. (noun) a system of government ruled by a tyrant

Examples

1. The citizens suffered under the tyranny of the cruel dictator.
2. The country lived in tyranny for decades until the revolution began.

How to use tyranny

Tyranny refers to both the cruel exercise of power by an individual ruler and the system of government that enables such rule. It is used in formal, political, and historical contexts to describe severe oppression. Unlike despotism, which is more technical and bureaucratic, tyranny emphasizes the brutality and injustice of the rule.

Common phrases

tyranny of the majority
throw off tyranny
escape tyranny
rule by tyranny
absolute tyranny

Synonyms

despotism · oppression · autocracy · dictatorship · totalitarianism

Opposites

democracy · freedom · liberty

Word family

tyrant (noun) · tyrannical (adjective) · tyrannically (adverb) · tyrannize (verb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use tyranny to mean any strict rule or authority, but it specifically denotes unjust, cruel, or oppressive governance, not merely strict discipline or order.

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