tyrannical
Americanadjective
-
of or characteristic of a tyrant.
-
unjustly cruel, harsh, or severe; arbitrary or oppressive; despotic.
a tyrannical ruler.
- Synonyms:
- domineering, imperious, dictatorial
adjective
Other Word Forms
- nontyrannic adjective
- nontyrannical adjective
- nontyrannically adverb
- nontyrannicalness noun
- pretyrannical adjective
- quasi-tyrannical adjective
- quasi-tyrannically adverb
- tyrannically adverb
- tyrannicalness noun
- untyrannic adjective
- untyrannical adjective
- untyrannically adverb
Etymology
Origin of tyrannical
1530–40; < Latin tyrannic ( us ) (< Greek tyrannikós, equivalent to týrann ( os ) tyrant + -ikos -ic ) + -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ironically, what began as an effort to promote transparency and efficiency for legal work has since become a tyrannical arrangement with both senior people and junior associates motivated to rack up hours to maximize profits.
Scipio didn’t pave the way for the tyrannical Caesars who were to come; he represents what they might have been.
But Pip rebukes Walker for “changing the temperature” of every room by “tyrannical, psychosocial … fiat.”
From Los Angeles Times
Dame Anna's tenure as editor-in-chief of US Vogue is widely rumoured to have inspired the character of Miranda Priestly in the Devil Wears Prada, a fictional portrayal of a tyrannical and revered fashion taste-maker.
From BBC
Freed from the tyrannical control that his father Murry had exerted over The Beach Boys’ direction as their manager, Wilson made a self-conscious stab at greatness.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
