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# tyrant

noun (a tyrant, tyrants)

«tyrant» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A tyrant is a ruler who uses power cruelly and unfairly and does not let people choose or change their leaders. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#m1)
2. (informal) A tyrant is anyone who bosses others about cruelly, such as a bossy boss, teacher or older sibling. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#m2)
3. (history) In ancient Greece a tyrant was a ruler who took power by force, not always cruel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#m3)

### In the lessons

In history and politics lessons a tyrant is the opposite of a fair, chosen leader; people fight tyranny with laws, elections and courts. In stories tyrants are kings, queens or giants who frighten everyone until heroes stand up to them. Phrases: a cruel tyrant, overthrow a tyrant, petty tyrant, tyranny.

### Examples

- The people rose up against the cruel tyrant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#x1)
- The tyrant threw anyone who disagreed into prison. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#x2)
- In the fairy tale, the tyrant king took all the farmers' food. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#x3)
- My big sister is a tyrant when it's her turn to choose the TV. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#x4)
- Ancient Athens was once ruled by tyrants. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#x5)
- Elections help stop a tyrant from taking power. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#x6)
- Tyrannosaurus rex means «tyrant lizard king». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#x7)
- The tyrant can always find an excuse for his tyranny. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/#x8)

### Note

Plural tyrants. Related words: tyranny (cruel rule), tyrannical (cruel and bossy). Do not confuse tyrant with «tirade» (a long angry speech).

## In Jewish tradition

It means a cruel, proud ruler. Isaiah uses it for the powerful oppressors whom God will bring low.

**Interpretation.** The prophets teach that God will humble proud rulers. Tradition reads this as a promise of justice in the end for those who suffer under cruel power.

### Examples

- And I will visit upon the world their evil, and upon the wicked their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the tyrants. (Prophets ISA.13.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tyrant/#x1)

### Note

Plural tyrants. Related words: tyranny (cruel rule), tyrannical (cruel and bossy). Do not confuse tyrant with «tirade» (a long angry speech).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «tyrant» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tyrant» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tyrant.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «tyrant» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tyrant/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tyrant» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/tyrant.html) on Mova free.