Final answer:
True, in contemporary usage, 'tyrant' and 'dictator' are often used interchangeably to describe rulers with absolute power and authority, and a lack of democratic legitimacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or False: "Tyrant" can be synonymous with "dictator." This statement is generally true. Historically, the term tyrant refers to a ruler who held power through means other than hereditary succession, often seizing control in response to a perceived need for a singular, decisive leadership. The original Greek concept of a tyrant (tyrannous) did not carry the inherently negative connotations it does today; it denoted a ruler who emerged to settle civil strife and often had the support of the governed.
On the other hand, a dictator is generally understood as a ruler with absolute power over a state, characterized by a lack of checks on their authority and an inclination to rule in an authoritarian manner. Dictators may rise to power through various means, including military coup or political maneuvering, and often exercise power with little regard for democratic processes or freedoms.
Considering the nuances and evolution of these terms, while they are not perfectly synonymous, they both describe leaders with absolute authority who are not monarchs. The content loaded True or False understanding of these terms indicates that both can refer to an individual governing without democratic legitimacy or checks on their power, often ruling for the sole benefit of maintaining their own position.