tyranny
TEER-uh-neenounMeaning cruel and unjust use of power
Memory hook TYRANT REX. King Rex makes the townspeople bow every time he passes and punishes anyone who sneezes. His cruel, unjust rule is tyranny.
The rebels fought to free their land from tyranny.
In context Under the old baron’s tyranny, villagers could be fined for singing in the street, and no one dared to complain.
Similar oppression, cruelty, dictatorship, despotism
Opposite freedom, liberty, justice
From Greek tyrannos, “absolute ruler,” the same word that gave the dinosaur Tyrannosaurus its name.