Synonyms for tyranny
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Despotism
despotism, dictatorship, autocracy, totalitarianism, absolutism, authoritarianism, shogunate, monocracy rare
2. Oppression
Definitions
- n. 1
A government in which a single ruler (a tyrant) has absolute power, or this system of government; especially, one that acts cruelly and unjustly.
- n. 2
The office or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler.
Related words
- Word family
- tyrannical tyrannize tyrant
Forms
- Plural
- tyrannies → despotisms, dictatorships, autocracies, totalitarianisms…
Example sentences
- dictatorship Algeria is neither a democracy nor a dictatorship.
- totalitarianism Totalitarianism is when people are mean to me.
- autocracy Down with the police! Down with autocracy!
- despotism Property is the right to use & abuse; it engenders despotism.
- oppression The Stasi was known for its ruthless oppression.
- persecution He could not shake off his persecution complex.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| tyranny | steady | |
| dictatorship | falling | |
| totalitarianism | steady | |
| autocracy | falling | |
| despotism | steady | |
| oppression | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 8 letters
- severity4
- 9 letters
- autocracy4, despotism4, shogunate, monocracy
- 10 letters
- oppression3, absolutism5, tyranthood
- 11 letters
- persecution4
- 12 letters
- dictatorship4
- 13 letters
- arbitrariness5
- 15 letters
- totalitarianism8
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (severity4 = 4 syllables).