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 

tī-

adverb

tyrannicalness

tə-ˈra-ni-kəl-nəs 

tī-

noun

Synonyms of tyrannical

• oppressive
• arbitrary
• authoritarian
• autocratic
• despotic
• dictatorial

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

Are modern-day Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada or Germany tyrannical countries? — Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

The states were resisting a tyrannical president amid a civil war tearing the country apart. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2026

In 1381, England’s working class grabbed their pitchforks and rose against tyrannical landlords, extortionate taxes, and the stranglehold of serfdom. — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026

But the guards did not become tyrannical, as in the Stanford experiment. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin tyrannicus, from Greek tyrannikos, from tyrannos tyrant

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tyrannical

• botanical
• brahmanical
• mechanical
• biomechanical
• thermomechanical
• electromechanical
• panicle
• puritanical

Kids Definition

tyrannical

adjective

ty·​ran·​ni·​cal tə-ˈran-i-kəl 

tī-

variants also tyrannic

-ˈran-ik 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a tyrant or tyranny

a tyrannical ruler

tyrannical rule

tyrannically

-ˈran-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb