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