TYRANNISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tyrannise mean? 

• TYRANNISE (verb)
  The verb TYRANNISE has 2 senses:

1. rule a country as a tyrant

2. rule or exercise power over (somebody) in a cruel and autocratic manner

  Familiarity information: TYRANNISE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TYRANNISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they tyrannise    ... he / she / it tyrannises   
Past simple: tyrannised   
Past participle: tyrannised   
-ing form: tyrannising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rule a country as a tyrant

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

grind down; tyrannise; tyrannize

Hypernyms (to "tyrannise" is one way to...):

dictate (rule as a dictator)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Rule or exercise power over (somebody) in a cruel and autocratic manner

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

domineer; tyrannise; tyrannize

Context example:

her husband and mother-in-law tyrannize her

Hypernyms (to "tyrannise" is one way to...):

ballyrag; boss around; browbeat; bully; bullyrag; hector; push around; strong-arm (be bossy towards)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

 Context examples 

I was sure St. John Rivers—pure-lived, conscientious, zealous as he was—had not yet found that peace of God which passeth all understanding: he had no more found it, I thought, than had I with my concealed and racking regrets for my broken idol and lost elysium—regrets to which I have latterly avoided referring, but which possessed me and tyrannised over me ruthlessly.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)