'Tyranny' definitions:
Definition of 'tyranny'
(from WordNet)
noun
A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) [syn: dictatorship, absolutism, authoritarianism, Caesarism, despotism, monocracy, one-man rule, shogunate, Stalinism, totalitarianism, tyranny]
noun
Dominance through threat of punishment and violence [syn: absolutism, tyranny, despotism]
Definition of 'Tyranny'
From: GCIDE
- 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, 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. [1913 Webster]
- "Sir," would he [Seneca] say, "an emperor mote need Be virtuous and hate tyranny." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Cruel government or discipline; as, the tyranny of a schoolmaster. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Severity; rigor; inclemency. [1913 Webster]
- The tyranny of the open night's too rough For nature to endure. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'tyranny'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- absolute monarchy,
- absolutism,
- arbitrariness,
- argumentum baculinum,
- aristocracy,
- autarchy,
- authoritarianism,
- autocracy,
- autonomy,
- benevolent despotism,
- big battalions,
- big stick,
- bond service,
- bondage,
- brute force,
- Caesarism,
- captivity,
- coalition government,
- colonialism,
- commonwealth,
- constitutional government,
- constitutional monarchy,
- control,
- czarism,
- debt slavery,
- democracy,
- deprivation of freedom,
- despotism,
- dictatorship,
- disenfranchisement,
- disfranchisement,
- domination,
- domineering,
- dominion rule,
- duarchy,
- duumvirate,
- dyarchy,
- enslavement,
- enthrallment,
- fascism,
- federal government,
- federation,
- feudal system,
- feudalism,
- feudality,
- force,
- garrison state,
- gerontocracy,
- heavy hand,
- helotism,
- helotry,
- heteronomy,
- hierarchy,
- hierocracy,
- high hand,
- home rule,
- indentureship,
- iron boot,
- iron hand,
- iron heel,
- kaiserism,
- limited monarchy,
- main force,
- martial law,
- meritocracy,
- militarism,
- military government,
- mob rule,
- mobocracy,
- monarchy,
- monocracy,
- naked force,
- Nazism,
- neocolonialism,
- ochlocracy,
- oligarchy,
- one-man rule,
- one-party rule,
- oppression,
- pantisocracy,
- paternalism,
- patriarchate,
- patriarchy,
- peonage,
- physical force,
- police state,
- pure democracy,
- regency,
- reign of terror,
- representative democracy,
- representative government,
- republic,
- restraint,
- rule of might,
- self-determination,
- self-government,
- serfdom,
- serfhood,
- servility,
- servitude,
- slavery,
- social democracy,
- Stalinism,
- steamroller,
- stratocracy,
- subjection,
- subjugation,
- suppression,
- technocracy,
- terrorism,
- thearchy,
- theocracy,
- thought control,
- thrall,
- thralldom,
- totalitarian government,
- totalitarian regime,
- totalitarianism,
- totality,
- triarchy,
- triumvirate,
- ultima ratio,
- vassalage,
- villenage,
- welfare state