Ceauçescu, NicolaeCeau‧çes‧cu, Nic‧o‧lae /tʃaʊˈʃeskuː, ˈnɪkəlaɪ/(1918–89) the president of Romania from 1967 to 1989, known as a cruel dictator. He used his secret police force to control the people, until he was removed from power by force, and he and his wife were killed.