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Meaning & use

tyrant

noun·Academicdisapproving

Last updated

UK/ˈtaɪərənt/
US/ˈtaɪrənt/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. nouncountabledisapproving

    A ruler who holds total power and uses it cruelly and unfairly.

    Grammar: Has a regular plural: tyrants. Always critical of the person.

    Patterns

    • a tyrant over someone
    • overthrow a tyrant

    The people finally rose up against the tyrant.

    History remembers him as a ruthless tyrant who jailed his critics.

    Many tyrants fall once the army stops obeying them.

  2. nouncountabledisapprovinginformalfigurative

    Any person in authority who bullies others and demands total obedience.

    Grammar: Informal and figurative, used of bosses, parents or teachers.

    Patterns

    • a tyrant at something

    Our old boss was a tyrant who shouted at anyone who was late.

    The coach was a tyrant about discipline.

    Don't be such a tyrant, and let the kids choose.

Word forms

pluraltyrants

Common combinations

a ruthless tyrant
A ruthless tyrant ruled the island for decades.
overthrow a tyrant
Rebels planned to overthrow the tyrant.
a petty tyrant
The office manager was a petty tyrant who controlled every small detail.
a cruel tyrant
The cruel tyrant taxed the poor to build himself a palace.
a household tyrant
The toddler became the household tyrant at dinner time.

Synonyms and how they differ

dictator
Dictator describes a ruler with absolute power, not always cruel, while tyrant always stresses cruelty and injustice.
despot
Despot is a literary near-twin of tyrant, often used of an absolute ruler in history.
oppressor
An oppressor is anyone who keeps others down by force and need not be a ruler.
autocrat
Autocrat is a neutral term for a ruler with total power, without the cruelty tyrant carries.

Opposites

democratliberator

Word family

tyranny noun
cruel and unjust use of power
tyrannical adjective
acting like a tyrant
tyrannize verb
to rule or treat someone cruelly
tyrannically adverb
in a cruel and controlling way

Commonly confused: tyrant or dictator?

tyrant vs dictator

A dictator holds total power, and may or may not be cruel, while a tyrant is defined by cruel and unjust use of that power.

Practice

The villagers lived in fear of the ____, who punished anyone who spoke against him.

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