noun
Nero
NEE-roh
noun
1
The Roman emperor remembered for his cruelty and excess, and by extension, any tyrannical ruler.
"Historians still debate how much of Nero's reputation for cruelty was exaggerated by his enemies."
2
Any especially cruel or tyrannical ruler, used as a general comparison.
"The rebels called their oppressive governor "a modern-day Nero.""
How to Use Nero
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHistorically the last emperor of a Roman dynasty, now used as a byword for a cruel tyrant.
Word Forms
Neros plural
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Historians still debate how much of _____'s reputation for cruelty was exaggerated by his enemies.
Etymology
From Latin Nerō, the name of the Roman emperor who ruled from 54 to 68 AD.