Antonyms for tyrant


Grammar : Noun
Spell : tahy-ruhnt
Phonetic Transcription : ˈtaɪ rənt


Definition of tyrant

Origin :
  • c.1300, "absolute ruler," from Old French tyrant (12c.), from Latin tyrannus "lord, master, tyrant" (cf. Spanish tirano, Italian tiranno), from Greek tyrannos "lord, master, sovereign, absolute ruler," a loan-word from a language of Asia Minor (probably Lydian); cf. Etruscan Turan "mistress, lady" (surname of Venus).
  • In the exact sense, a tyrant is an individual who arrogates to himself the royal authority without having a right to it. This is how the Greeks understood the word 'tyrant': they applied it indifferently to good and bad princes whose authority was not legitimate. [Rousseau, "The Social Contract"]
  • The spelling with -t arose in Old French by analogy with present participle endings in -ant. Fem. form tyranness is recorded from 1590 (Spenser); cf. Medieval Latin tyrannissa (late 14c.).
  • noun person who dictates, oppresses
Example sentences :
  • The man is the head of the family, but he must not be a tyrant.
  • Extract from : « An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism » by Joseph Stump
  • Do not consider me as your master—your tyrant; do not imagine that I think you ungrateful!
  • Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
  • He lays his finger on the tyrant's head, and he sinks into the dust!
  • Extract from : « Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II » by Francis Augustus Cox
  • A tyrant's authority for crime and fool's excuse for failure.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
  • When the People have no other tyrant, their own public opinion becomes one.
  • Extract from : « Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • Take him all in all, James was a bigot, a tyrant, a conceited fool.
  • Extract from : « The Bay State Monthly, Vol. 1, Issue 1. » by Various
  • You cannot help thinking that the sneak would be a tyrant, if he had the opportunity.
  • Extract from : « The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 10, No. 58, August, 1862 » by Various
  • Don't you fairly detest going into business with that tyrant yonder?
  • Extract from : « Alice Adams » by Booth Tarkington
  • The tyrant, it has been said, is but a slave turned inside out.
  • Extract from : « Self-Help » by Samuel Smiles
  • Another will pose as a social benefactor, while at home he is an egoist and a tyrant.
  • Extract from : « The Sexual Question » by August Forel

Synonyms for tyrant

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019