tyranny
This term conveys a sense of suffocating control and the absence of legal protections or personal autonomy. It is heavily associated with the image of a single, unchecked will imposing its desires upon a population, evoking feelings of helplessness and injustice.
While it often describes political regimes, it is frequently used in professional or domestic settings to describe any relationship where one person exercises excessive, arbitrary power over another. It differs from mere strictness by the addition of cruelty or a lack of legitimate justification.
Meanings
Cruel and oppressive government or rule by a single person with absolute power.
The people rose up to overthrow the tyranny of the dictator.
The exercise of power in a cruel, arbitrary, or oppressive manner, regardless of whether it is a formal government.
The employees suffered under the tyranny of their micromanager.