Tyranny vs. Dictatorship — What's the Difference?

Cruel and oppressive government or rule

A dictatorship is a form of government characterized by a single leader or group of leaders and little or no toleration for political pluralism or independent media. According to other definitions, democracies are a form of government in which "those who govern are selected through periodically contested elections (in years)"; therefore, dictatorships are "not democracies,.".With the advent of the 19th and 20th centuries, dictatorships and constitutional democracies emerged as the world's two major forms of government, gradually eliminating monarchies with significant political power, the most widespread form of government in the pre-industrial era.

Unjust or oppressive governmental power

The office or tenure of a dictator.

A government in which a single ruler is vested with absolute power

A state or government under dictatorial rule.

The office, authority, or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler

Absolute or despotic control or power.

The oppressive or unjust use of power

A type of government where absolute sovereignty is allotted to an individual or a small clique.

A tyrannical act

A government which exercises autocratic rule.

An oppressive or harshly limiting condition

Any household, institution, or other organization that is run under such sovereignty or autocracy.

A government in which a single ruler (a tyrant) has absolute power; this system of government.

The office, or the term of office, of a dictator; hence, absolute power.

The office or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler.

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

Absolute power, or its use.

A system of government in which power is exercised on behalf of the ruler or ruling class, without regard to the wishes of the governed.

Extreme severity or rigour.

The government or authority of a tyrant; a country governed by an absolute ruler; hence, arbitrary or despotic exercise of power; exercise of power over subjects and others with a rigor not authorized by law or justice, or not requisite for the purposes of government.

Cruel government or discipline; as, the tyranny of a schoolmaster.

Severity; rigor; inclemency.

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

Dominance through threat of punishment and violence