tyrant

noun

ty·​rant ˈtī-rənt How to pronounce tyrant (audio)
1
a
: an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution
b
: a usurper of sovereignty
2
a
: a ruler who exercises absolute power oppressively or brutally
b
: one resembling an oppressive ruler in the harsh use of authority or power

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What makes someone a tyrant?

A glance at the comments posted in response to our definition of tyrant illustrate two things: the word has a fairly wide spectrum of meaning, and many political rulers of late (regardless of party and action) are thought by some to merit this description. The word is often now found used as a generalized term of reproach ("he was a real tyrant in the kitchen"), and also with more specific denotation ("the tyrant suspended the country’s judicial code"). The definitions we give for words match, as best as possible, the manner in which these words are used. We cannot offer judgment on whether or not any specific individual is or is not a tyrant.

Examples of tyrant in a Sentence

Our boss is a real tyrant. the people universally feared the tyrant, who was notorious for his frequent use of torture
Recent Examples on the Web By the end of that decade, it was widely thought that the web would be an ally of democracy and a slayer of tyrants. Jonathan Haidt, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2024 Jihan had noticed that the act of matrimony transformed many of her friends’ charming suitors into petty tyrants. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Critics of Lincoln have often painted him not as a lover of democracy but as a tyrant, pointing to his suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War. Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Feb. 2024 Now, the ruthless foreign tyrant who rules the region has pulled Veris from her home and given her a task: Go back into the forest and retrieve his children who are ensnared there. Gabino Iglesias, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 This is what a tyrant looks like: small, and full of tedious resentments. Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2024 Western democracies prevailed in World War II only by helping an awful tyrant, Joseph Stalin, crush an even more awful foe, Adolf Hitler. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Delirious, to say the least, love is merely a parasitical function in a novel defamation of a tyrant’s horrific legacy. Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2024 And the task of unifying Italy was not only the need to expel foreigners and put down competitive homegrown tyrants. David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tyrant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tyraunt, from Anglo-French tyran, tyrant, from Latin tyrannus, from Greek tyrannos

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Cite this Entry

“Tyrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyrant. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tyrant

noun
ty·​rant ˈtī-rənt How to pronounce tyrant (audio)
1
: a ruler who has no legal limits on his or her power by law or constitution
2
a
: a ruler who exercises total power harshly or cruelly
b
: a person who uses authority or power harshly

More from Merriam-Webster on tyrant

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