tyrannical
adjective
ty·ran·ni·cal
tə-ˈra-ni-kəl 
tī-
variants
or less commonly tyrannic
tə-ˈra-nik
tī-
Examples of tyrannical in a Sentence
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
The film, based on Georges Simenon’s 1950 novel, stars Depardieu as a celebrated but tyrannical actor grappling with personal and professional decline.
—
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
What is the character of those who bear false witness and favor Russia’s tyrannical lies over Ukrainians’ unalienable rights?
—Mark Sandy, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
The Constitution that resulted outlined a separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, serving together as a system of checks and balances to prevent the kind of tyrannical rule that the colonies fought to free themselves from.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
The tyrannical showrunner, Cal, is our victim of the week, done in by his (in her mind) long-suffering leading lady, Regina Coburn (Laurie Metcalf, what a get!), who finally has a chance to put her classical training to work in a production of Macbeth in London.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tyrannical
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Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
What is the character of those who bear false witness and favor Russia’s tyrannical lies over Ukrainians’ unalienable rights?
—Mark Sandy, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
The Constitution that resulted outlined a separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, serving together as a system of checks and balances to prevent the kind of tyrannical rule that the colonies fought to free themselves from.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
The tyrannical showrunner, Cal, is our victim of the week, done in by his (in her mind) long-suffering leading lady, Regina Coburn (Laurie Metcalf, what a get!), who finally has a chance to put her classical training to work in a production of Macbeth in London.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tyrannical
Cite this Entry
“Tyrannical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyrannical. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tyrannical
adjective
ty·ran·ni·cal
tə-ˈran-i-kəl
tī-
variants
also tyrannic
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a tyrant or tyranny
a tyrannical ruler
tyrannical rule
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