tyrannical
adjective
ty·ran·ni·cal tə-ˈra-ni-kəl 
tī-
variants or less commonly tyrannic
tə-ˈra-nik
tī-
: being or characteristic of a tyrant or tyranny : despotic
tyrannical rule
a tyrannical ruler
tyrannically
tə-ˈra-ni-k(ə-)lē
adverb tī-
tyrannicalness
tə-ˈra-ni-kəl-nəs
noun tī-
Synonyms
- absolute
- arbitrary
- autocratic
- autocratical
- czarist
- tsarist
- tzarist
- despotic
- dictatorial
- monocratic
- tyrannous
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Everyone was afraid of their overbearing and tyrannical boss. a tyrannical ruler whose terrible reign was marked by unceasing violence
Recent Examples on the Web Russell Harvard’s Oedipus is tyrannical without understanding himself to be so. 
Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2022 In the weeks that followed, resentment of law enforcement intensified sharply, with anti-lockdowners perceiving individual officers as complicit in an oppressive, tyrannical order. Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2022 The latter option is bad because Daemon is tyrannical despite his limited clout. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Aug. 2022 With the trajectory now reversed, Leavel should have been granted the opportunity on the Nederlander stage for some all-out tyrannical hyperventilation. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2022 The story follows an 18-year-old Snow, who would eventually rise to become the tyrannical president of the dystopian nation of Panem, and the main villain of the Hunger Games series. Jen Juneau, PEOPLE.com, 31 May 2022 Impressively played by Faran Tahir, Baba is a major deal in the business of the city and a semi-tyrannical patriarch at home. Marilyn Stasio, Variety, 22 July 2022 As witnesses to his lies, manipulations and shameless efforts to overthrow the 2020 election have come forward, what has emerged is less an evil mastermind than a petty, tyrannical bully, desperate to hold on to power at any cost. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 12 July 2022 Powerful editors still exhibited outsized power and a frisson of awe, even excitement, still attached itself to the scary, tyrannical, artistic boss. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2022 See More
Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2022 In the weeks that followed, resentment of law enforcement intensified sharply, with anti-lockdowners perceiving individual officers as complicit in an oppressive, tyrannical order. Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2022 The latter option is bad because Daemon is tyrannical despite his limited clout. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Aug. 2022 With the trajectory now reversed, Leavel should have been granted the opportunity on the Nederlander stage for some all-out tyrannical hyperventilation. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2022 The story follows an 18-year-old Snow, who would eventually rise to become the tyrannical president of the dystopian nation of Panem, and the main villain of the Hunger Games series. Jen Juneau, PEOPLE.com, 31 May 2022 Impressively played by Faran Tahir, Baba is a major deal in the business of the city and a semi-tyrannical patriarch at home. Marilyn Stasio, Variety, 22 July 2022 As witnesses to his lies, manipulations and shameless efforts to overthrow the 2020 election have come forward, what has emerged is less an evil mastermind than a petty, tyrannical bully, desperate to hold on to power at any cost. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 12 July 2022 Powerful editors still exhibited outsized power and a frisson of awe, even excitement, still attached itself to the scary, tyrannical, artistic boss. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin tyrannicus, from Greek tyrannikos, from tyrannos tyrant
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
tyrannical
adjective
ty·ran·ni·cal tə-ˈra-ni-kəl
: relating to or like that of tyranny or a tyrant
tyrannical acts
tyrannical
adjective
variants also tyrannic
1
as in oppressive
exercising power or authority without interference by others a tyrannical ruler whose terrible reign was marked by unceasing violence Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- oppressive
- authoritarian
- autocratic
- despotic
- dictatorial
- domineering
- tyrannous
- arbitrary
- czarist
- totalitarian
- imperious
- sovereign
- monocratic
- autocratical
- tsarist
- antidemocratic
- absolute
- tzarist
- jackbooted
- omnipotent
- magisterial
- almighty
- autonomous
- high-handed
- antirepublican
- all-powerful
- unconditional
- masterful
- unlimited
- sovran
- self-governing
- self-ruling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- constitutional
- limited
- democratic
- lawful
- restricted
- restrained
- republican
- circumscribed
2
as in domineering
fond of ordering people around even when he was still a toddler, he tended to be a tyrannical playmate Synonyms & Similar Words
- domineering
- masterful
- autocratic
- despotic
- authoritarian
- dictatorial
- tyrannous
- controlling
- overbearing
- bossy
- imperious
- proud
- arrogant
- peremptory
- authoritative
- autocratical
- commanding
- aggressive
- stern
- dictating
- vain
- superior
- haughty
- imperial
- supercilious
- uppity
- arbitrary
- disdainful
- overweening
- pretentious
- presumptuous
- regimental
- assumptive
- narcissistic
- directorial
- high-and-mighty
- omnipotent
- magisterial
- huffy
- high-handed
- pompous
- lordly
- important
- lofty
- conceited
- highfalutin
- presuming
- uppish
- assertive
- hifalutin
- self-asserting
- almighty
- toplofty
- toploftical
- fastuous
- imperative
- all-powerful
- self-assertive
- high-hat
- firm
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- meek
- humble
- obedient
- modest
- docile
- unassuming
- amenable
- indecisive
- passive
- tractable
- submissive
- compliant
- irresolute
- yielding
- acquiescent
- resigned