A cruel ruler who has complete power over people and uses it unfairly and harshly.
From Greek 'tyrannos' (tyrant), originally meaning an absolute ruler not necessarily evil, but evolved through Latin into English meaning a harsh, oppressive dictator. The negative meaning developed as stories of ancient tyrants spread.
Tyrants often justify their power through fear, but history shows they eventually fall—every single absolute ruler faces rebellion. The word itself traveled from Greek to mean 'usurper,' showing how language captures humanity's struggle against unfair power.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.