tyrant
A usurper; one who gains power and rules extralegally, distinguished from kings…A usurper; one who gains power and rules extralegally, distinguished from kings elevated by election or succession.
» People don't want to be ruled by a tyrant.
Meaning
6 senses(historical)A usurper; one who gains power and rules extralegally, distinguished from kings elevated by election or succession.
тира́нtirán
A despot; a ruler who governs unjustly, cruelly, or harshly.
Tyrann, Tyrannin
тира́нtirán, деспотdespot, тиранкаtiranka
(broadly)Any person who abuses the power of position or office to treat others unjustly, cruelly, or harshly.
Tyrann, Tyrannin
тира́нtirán
any person who exercises power in a cruel way
(broadly)A villain; a person or thing who uses strength or violence to treat others unjustly, cruelly, or harshly.
тира́нtirán
The tyrant birds, members of the family Tyrannidae, which often fight or drive off other birds which approach their nests.
(obsolete)Any monarch or governor.
Examples
42 sentencesPeople don't want to be ruled by a tyrant.
The tyrant kept the people down.
The tyrant's heart melted with compassion.
Any excuse will serve a tyrant.
Algeria doesn't need a new tyrant.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English tyraunt, tiraunt, tyrant, tyrante, from Old French tyrant, from the adFrom Middle English tyraunt, tiraunt, tyrant, tyrante, from Old French tyrant, from the addition of a terminal -t to tiran (cp. French tyran) via a back-formation related to the development of French present participles out of the Latin -ans form, from Latin tyrannus (“despot”), from Ancient Greek τύραννος (túrannos, “usurper, monarch, despot”), of uncertain origin.
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