TYRANNY

dictatorship, absolutism, authoritarianism, Caesarism, despotism, monocracy, one-man rule, shogunate, Stalinism, totalitarianism, tyranny

(noun) a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

absolutism, tyranny, despotism

(noun) dominance through threat of punishment and violence

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

tyranny (countable and uncountable, plural tyrannies)

A government in which a single ruler (a tyrant) has absolute power; this system of government.

The office or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler.

Absolute power, or its use.

A system of government in which power is exercised on behalf of the ruler or ruling class, without regard to the wishes of the governed.

Extreme severity or rigour.

Synonyms

• (government): autocracy, despotism, dictatorship, monarchy

Source: Wiktionary


Tyr"an*ny, n. Etym: [OE. tirannye, OF. tirannie, F. tyrannie; cf. It. tirannia; Gr. tyrannis. See Tyrant.]

1. The government or authority of a tyrant; a country governed by an absolute ruler; hence, arbitrary or despotic exercise of power; exercise of power over subjects and others with a rigor not authorized by law or justice, or not requisite for the purposes of government. "Sir," would he [Seneca] say, "an emperor mote need Be virtuous and hate tyranny." Chaucer.

2. Cruel government or discipline; as, the tyranny of a schoolmaster.

3. Severity; rigor; inclemency. The tyranny of the open night's too rough For nature to endure. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

29 March 2024

FAULTFINDING

(adjective) tending to make moral judgments or judgments based on personal opinions; “a counselor tries not to be faultfinding”


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