tyranny

tyranny
[[t]tɪ̱rəni[/t]]
tyrannies
1) N-VAR A tyranny is a cruel, harsh, and unfair government in which a person or small group of people have power over everyone else.

He described these regimes as tyrannies and dictatorships...

Self-expression and individuality are the greatest weapons against tyranny.

2) N-UNCOUNT If you describe someone's behaviour and treatment of others that they have authority over as tyranny, you mean that they are severe with them or unfair to them.

I'm the sole victim of Mother's tyranny.

3) N-COUNT: oft N of n You can describe something that you have to use or have as a tyranny if you think it is undesirable or unpleasant.

The telephone is one of the great tyrannies of modern life.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tyranny — Студийный альбом Shadow Gallery Дата выпуска 22 сентября 1998 …   Википедия

  • Tyranny — Tyr an*ny (t[i^]r an*n[y^]), n. [OE. tirannye, OF. tirannie, F. tyrannie; cf. It. tirannia; Gr. tyranni a, tyranni s, L. tyrannis. See {Tyrant}.] 1. The government or authority of a tyrant; a country governed by an absolute ruler; hence,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tyranny — index cruelty, injustice, oppression, severity, thrall Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • tyranny — late 14c., cruel or unjust use of power, from O.Fr. tyrannie (13c.), from L.L. tyrannia tyranny, from Gk. tyrannia rule of a tyrant, from tyrannos master (see TYRANT (Cf. tyrant)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • tyranny — [n] dictatorship absolutism, authoritarianism, autocracy, coercion, cruelty, despotism, domination, fascism, high handedness, imperiousness, monocracy, oligarchy, oppression, peremptoriness, reign of terror*, severity, terrorism, totalitarianism …   New thesaurus

  • tyranny — ► NOUN (pl. tyrannies) 1) cruel and oppressive government or rule. 2) a state under such rule. 3) cruel and arbitrary exercise of power or control. DERIVATIVES tyrannous adjective …   English terms dictionary

  • tyranny — [tir′ə nē] n. pl. tyrannies [ME tirannie < OFr < ML tyrannia < Gr] 1. the office, authority, government, or jurisdiction of a tyrant, or absolute ruler 2. oppressive and unjust government; despotism 3. very cruel and unjust use of power… …   English World dictionary

  • tyranny — n. 1) to impose tyranny on 2) to overthrow a tyranny 3) cruel, merciless; ruthless tyranny 4) an act of tyranny 5) tyranny over * * * [ tɪrənɪ] merciless ruthless tyranny an act of tyranny cruel …   Combinatory dictionary

  • tyranny — UK [ˈtɪrənɪ] / US noun Word forms tyranny : singular tyranny plural tyrannies 1) [countable/uncountable] a government that treats people in a cruel and unfair way, using force to control them a brutal tyranny The people will rise up to free… …   English dictionary

  • tyranny — tyr|an|ny [ˈtırəni] n plural tyrannies [U and C] [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: tyrannie, from Medieval Latin tyrannia, from Latin tyrannus; TYRANT] 1.) cruel or unfair control over other people ▪ Gorky was often the victim of his… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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