Did you know?
What makes someone a tyrant?
A glance at the comments posted in response to our definition of tyrant illustrate two things: the word has a fairly wide spectrum of meaning, and many political rulers of late (regardless of party and action) are thought by some to merit this description. The word is often now found used as a generalized term of reproach ("he was a real tyrant in the kitchen"), and also with more specific denotation ("the tyrant suspended the country’s judicial code"). The definitions we give for words match, as best as possible, the manner in which these words are used. We cannot offer judgment on whether or not any specific individual is or is not a tyrant.
Examples of tyrant in a Sentence
EW.com, 20 May 2025
By the end of the finale episode, Kingpin has essentially taken control of the entire city and the Punisher is kidnapped by the corrupt police but Daredevil is assembling his own army to combat the tyrant.
—Skyler Trepel, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
That failure directly resulted in the creation of the postwar global order, the founding of NATO, and the United Nations—all institutions aimed at ensuring that tyrants could not redraw borders through force.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
The Soviet dictator, the Man of Steel, was the type of tyrant that Trump chillingly admires.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tyrant
Cite this Entry
“Tyrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyrant. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tyrant
noun
Share