tyrannize

verb

Definition of tyrannizenext
as in to oppress

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tyrannize Among his memorable leading performances were roles as an explosive Marine pilot who tyrannizes his family in The Great Santini (1979) and as a fading, alcoholic country singer in Tender Mercies (1983), which won him a Best Actor Oscar. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 24 Feb. 2026 There would be plenty to celebrate if Iranians successfully replaced the Islamist regime that has tyrannized them for 45 years. — Jason D. Greenblatt, semafor.com, 18 June 2025 The driving force behind these antics is a tyrannizing uncertainty. — Andrew Kay, Harpers Magazine, 28 May 2025 The mechanics of Shakespeare’s plot — unfolding first in rigid, tyrannized Sicilia and then in pastoral, sunnier Bohemia — hinge on our rooting for the characters Leontes so cruelly censures. — Peter Marks, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023 Saddam Hussein tyrannized Iraq for 12 years after his troops were routed in Kuwait in 1991. — Daniel Treisman, Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2022 In the process, these majority ethnic coalitions tyrannize and marginalize other groups, particularly those that are not members of the coalition. — John Mukum Mbaku, Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2021 In Portsmouth, Virginia, cops have been systematically using their state power to tyrannize political enemies. — Alex Pareene, The New Republic, 28 Aug. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrannize
  1. oppress
  2. dominate
  3. dictate
  4. domineer
  5. regulate
Verb
  • And women, being oppressed in that way in that realm, have been able nonetheless to engage with the more emotional maturity.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Claiming that other people expressing their civil rights is oppressing them, and politicizing what are supposed to be non-partisan parts of how the government works on the state and federal level.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of oppress
Verb
  • The crude market remains dominated by state producers, major energy companies, commodity merchants and large industrial consumers whose activity dwarfs that of individual traders.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • All-white kitchens, another style that uses one color to dominate a room, came in at number four for the most controversial decor trend.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dominate
Verb
  • Concrete is important again here, dictating the lack of material variation throughout the museum, the uniform thickness of the gallery walls, and the minimal slots of light at the junctions of many walls and ceilings.
    — Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Bikes are not allowed to on freeways or expressways, and cyclists cannot pass through tolls unless the signs nearby dictate otherwise.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dictate
Verb
  • While independent venues shuttered during the pandemic, venue domineer Live Nation — which can much more easily close its doors for soundproofing or for an infectious outbreak — posted its best years in 2022 and 2023.
    — Katie Thornton, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024
  • When her father Philip dies, Rachel’s domineering mother, Carol, played by Ormond (see first look image), driven by the belief that Philip’s lifeless body will revive itself, forces her daughter to live with the corpse.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 June 2023
Definition of domineer
Verb
  • Most Popular For Holey, skincare shouldn’t overpower the skin, but support it in regulating itself.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
  • They’re regulated on the federal level by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of regulate

Browse Nearby Words

tyrannically
tyrannize
tyrannized
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Cite this Entry

“Tyrannize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrannize. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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