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

3 May 2025

DESIRABLE

(adjective) worth having or seeking or achieving; “a desirable job”; “computer with many desirable features”; “a desirable outcome”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the most massive cup of coffee contained 22,739.14 liters and was created by Alcaldía Municipal de Chinchiná (Colombia) at Parque de Bolívar, Chinchiná, Caldas, Colombia, on 15 June 2019. Fifty people worked for more than a month to build this giant cup. The drink prepared was Arabic coffee.

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