TYRANNIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tyrannize mean? 

• TYRANNIZE (verb)
  The verb TYRANNIZE 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: TYRANNIZE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TYRANNIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they tyrannize    ... he / she / it tyrannizes   
Past simple: tyrannized   
Past participle: tyrannized   
-ing form: tyrannizing   

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 "tyrannize" is one way to...):

dictate (rule as a dictator)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

tyrant (a cruel and oppressive dictator)

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 "tyrannize" is one way to...):

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

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot tyrannize Sue

Derivation:

tyrant (a cruel and oppressive dictator)

 Context examples 

My wife and I respect ourselves and one another too much ever to tyrannize or quarrel.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

We talk about the tyranny of words, but we like to tyrannize over them too; we are fond of having a large superfluous establishment of words to wait upon us on great occasions; we think it looks important, and sounds well.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

My father was always saying the inn would be ruined, for people would soon cease coming there to be tyrannized over and put down, and sent shivering to their beds; but I really believe his presence did us good.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Esther was a Frenchwoman, who had lived with 'Madame', as she called her mistress, for many years, and who rather tyrannized over the old lady, who could not get along without her.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Of course the children tyrannized over her, and ruled the house as soon as they found out that kicking and squalling brought them whatever they wanted.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Of course, Demi tyrannized over Daisy, and gallantly defended her from every other aggressor, while Daisy made a galley slave of herself, and adored her brother as the one perfect being in the world.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)