tyrannize

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: tyr=an=nize

CIDE DICTIONARY

tyrannize, v. i. [Cf. F. tyranniser, Gr. tyranni`zein to take the part of tyrants.].

 To act the tyrant; to exercise arbitrary power; to rule with unjust and oppressive severity; to exercise power over others not permitted by law or required by justice, or with a severity not necessary to the ends of justice and government; as, a prince will often tyrannize over his subjects; masters sometimes tyrannize over their servants or apprentices.  [1913 Webster]

tyrannize, v. t. 

 To subject to arbitrary, oppressive, or tyrannical treatment; to oppress.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tyrannize, v.tr. & (foll. by over) intr. (also -ise) behave like a tyrant towards; rule or treat despotically or cruelly.

Etymology

F tyranniser (as TYRANT)

THESAURUS

tyrannize

beat down, bend, break, break down, bring low, bring to terms, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, castrate, clamp down on, coerce, compel, conquer, cow, crush, daunt, despotize, dictate, dominate, domineer, domineer over, enslave, grind, grind down, henpeck, humble, humiliate, intimidate, keep down, keep under, lord it over, master, oppress, order about, overawe, overbear, overlord, overmaster, override, overwhelm, press heavy on, quell, reduce, repress, ride over, ride roughshod over, shackle, subdue, subjugate, suppress, terrorize, trample, trample down, trample underfoot, trample upon, tread down, tread underfoot, tread upon, tyrannize over, unman, walk all over, walk over, weigh heavy on

ROGET THESAURUS

tyrannize

Severity

VB be severe, assume, usurp, arrogate, take liberties, domineer, bully, tyrannize, inflict, wreak, stretch a point, put on the screw, be hard upon, bear a heavy hand on, lay a heavy hand on, be down upon, come down upon, ill treat, deal hardly with, deal hard measure to, rule with a rod of iron, chastise with scorpions, dye with blood, oppress, override, trample under foot, tread under foot, tread upon, trample upon, tread down upon, trample down upon, crush under an iron heel, ride roughshod over, rivet the yoke, hold a tight hand, keep a tight hand, force down the throat, coerce, give no quarter.