Dictionary

tyrannize en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈtɪɹ.ən.aɪz/ (US)

Etymology

From Middle French tyranniser, equivalent to tyranny + -ize.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To oppress (someone).
   • 2001, Breena Clarke, “Roots of Success” (review of On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker by A’Lelia Bundles), Chicago Tribune, 18 February, 2001, I spent the first 18 years of my life tyrannized by a red-hot hair-pressing comb. Well, maybe tyrannized is an exaggeration. But covering your ears while hot grease sizzles nearby is not a young girl's idea of a fun time.
   • In truth he was the type of man who is spoilt by the submission of weaker people than himself. There are such men, who must either be tyrannized or be tyrants […] 1929, Edgar Wallace, “The Tyrant of the House”, in The Iron Grip, London: George Newnes:
2. (intransitive) To rule as a tyrant.
   • Parental affection, indeed, in many minds, is but a pretext to tyrannize where it can be done with impunity, for only good and wise men are content with the respect that will bear discussion. 1791 (date written), Mary Wollstonecraft, “Parental Affection”, in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1792, →OCLC, page 344:
   • What? will they tyrannize vpon the Church? 1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
   • General Secretary Xi is not destined to tyrannize inside and outside of China forever, unless we allow it. 2020, Michael Pompeo, “Communist China and the Free World’s Future”, in U. S. Department of State:
   • […] lest som should perswade ye, Lords and Commons, that these arguments of lerned mens discouragement at this your order, are meer flourishes, and not reall, I could recount what I have seen and heard in other Countries, where this kind of inquisition tyrannizes […] 1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 24:
   • Ah, Rome! Well, well; I made thee miserable What time I threw the people’s suffrages On him that thus doth tyrannize o’er me. c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
   • The prince tyrannized over his subjects.

Forms

Deriveds

tyrannizingly · tyrannizer · untyrannized

Synonyms

domineer · domineer

Translations (22)

pt tiranizar (oppress someone) · fi sortaa (oppress someone) · de tyrannisieren (oppress someone) · cmn 壓迫 /压迫 (oppress someone) · fr tyranniser (oppress someone) · el τυραννώ (oppress someone) · nb tyrannisere (oppress someone) · frm tyranniser (oppress someone) · nn tyrannisera (oppress someone) · uk тиранити (oppress someone) · pt tiranizar (rule as a tyrant) · ru тира́нить (oppress someone) · cmn 限制 (oppress someone) · el τυραννώ (rule as a tyrant) · nn tyrannisere (oppress someone) · hu zsarnokoskodik (oppress someone) · bg тиранизирам (oppress someone) · es tiranizar (oppress someone) · sv tyrannisera (oppress someone) · hu zsarnokoskodik (rule as a tyrant) · hu hatalmaskodik (oppress someone) · ca tiranitzar (oppress someone)