tyrannical

[ ti-ran-i-kuhl, tahy- ]

adjective

1. of or characteristic of a tyrant.
2. unjustly cruel, harsh, or severe; arbitrary or oppressive; despotic:

   a tyrannical ruler.

   Synonyms: domineering, imperious, dictatorial

tyrannical

/ tɪˈrænɪkəl; tɪˈrænɪk /

adjective

1. characteristic of or relating to a tyrant or to tyranny; oppressive

Derived Forms

• tyˈrannicalness, noun
• tyˈrannically, adverb

Other Words From

• ty·ranni·cal·ly adverb
• ty·ranni·cal·ness noun
• nonty·rannic adjective
• nonty·ranni·cal adjective
• nonty·ranni·cal·ly adverb
• nonty·ranni·cal·ness noun
• prety·ranni·cal adjective
• quasi-ty·ranni·cal adjective
• quasi-ty·ranni·cal·ly adverb
• unty·rannic adjective
• unty·ranni·cal adjective
• unty·ranni·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tyrannical¹

1530–40; < Latin tyrannic ( us ) (< Greek tyrannikós, equivalent to týrann ( os ) tyrant + -ikos -ic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Logan, who has weathered more than a few storms during his tyrannical tenure as CEO, is better than his son at projecting order amidst undeniable chaos.

From The Daily Beast

Ironically, its members—a group of eastern North Carolina yeomen—believed themselves to be responding to a tyrannical conspiracy against Protestant liberty, and in resistance against forced military service.

From Time

Realizing how short life is, lots of employees are opting to leave their job rather than endure the low pay or a tyrannical supervisor — or both.

From Washington Post

He has shaken up the British establishment with his radical acts of civil disobedience, aggressively pushed for change in global attitudes about homosexuality, and stood up against tyrannical world leaders – and he’s done it all from the front lines.

From Washington Blade

It is no accident that the initial discussions about overthrowing Michigan’s so-called tyrannical governor started at a Second Amendment rally in June.

From No Straight News

The Hunger Games franchise is already a deeply political saga, chronicling a growing rebellion against a tyrannical regime.

From The Daily Beast

Mugabe, now 90, has remained in power ever since using increasingly tyrannical measures to maintain his regime.

From The Daily Beast

Those facts, Paul said, indicated that Chairman Mao was a tyrannical monster whose people lived “in abject slavery.”

From The Daily Beast

She was just doing what she could to survive under the tyrannical reign of Tywin.

From The Daily Beast

He supplies a vivid picture of a tyrannical state that eradicated political opposition with chilling efficiency.

From The Daily Beast

"Working men have been hit very hard by the tyrannical Budget," announces a morning paper.

From Project Gutenberg

These Fincastle Resolutions also included strong written opposition to English tyrannical power.

From Project Gutenberg

Scarborough drank more beer than he had done the day before, and was more tyrannical than ever.

From Project Gutenberg

For more than five years past war had been in the land, the struggle for freedom against a blind and tyrannical government.

From Project Gutenberg

Mean and tyrannical—those who deal with her, must be tools or enemies,—I choose the latter alternative.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• authoritarian
• autocratic
• brutal
• cruel
• dictatorial
• domineering
• overbearing
• repressive
• ruthless
• totalitarian