as in dictator
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
the people universally feared the tyrant, who was notorious for his frequent use of torture
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tyrant
The world is full of bad actors—cheats, liars, tyrants, sickos—who are, ultimately, mere human beings; at least, this was how rationality would have it.
—
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
America desperately needs a Congress able and willing to restrain the tyrant and to impeach and remove him.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
All that has happened is that one tyrant has overthrown another tyrant simply to grab all the other guy’s oil.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
Trump celebrates our nation’s founding while imitating tyrant King George III, argues columnist Jackie Calmes.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tyrant
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
America desperately needs a Congress able and willing to restrain the tyrant and to impeach and remove him.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
All that has happened is that one tyrant has overthrown another tyrant simply to grab all the other guy’s oil.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
Trump celebrates our nation’s founding while imitating tyrant King George III, argues columnist Jackie Calmes.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tyrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrant
dictator
Noun
-
Its focus soon shifted to ousting dictator Slobodan Milosevic, using mass demonstrations and a general strike across the provinces to make its point.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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Thousands of Libyans gathered Friday to mourn Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late dictator, at his funeral in northwestern Libya.—
Yousef Murad,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tyrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrant. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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