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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
even when he was still a toddler, he tended to be a tyrannical playmate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tyrannical
As for a change in power in the upcoming midterm elections, this can only happen if they are held and not stopped by the invasion of our cities, in an obvious attempt at tyrannical control.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Back in the late 1700s, with the demands of a tyrannical and unaccountable king at the front of their minds, the founders built a tariff order aimed at maintaining democratic legitimacy and preventing the concentration of power in a single individual’s hands.
—Kent Jones, The Conversation, 17 Jan. 2026
The proud and courageous Iranian people are rising up against the tyrannical, despotic and oppressive regime that imposed its vicious rule in 1979 and has governed by fear and murder ever since.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Though not an outright villain like the tyrannical Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), Dementus exhibits psychopathic behavior throughout the film, engaging in human trafficking and even murder.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tyrannical
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Back in the late 1700s, with the demands of a tyrannical and unaccountable king at the front of their minds, the founders built a tariff order aimed at maintaining democratic legitimacy and preventing the concentration of power in a single individual’s hands.
—Kent Jones, The Conversation, 17 Jan. 2026
The proud and courageous Iranian people are rising up against the tyrannical, despotic and oppressive regime that imposed its vicious rule in 1979 and has governed by fear and murder ever since.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Though not an outright villain like the tyrannical Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), Dementus exhibits psychopathic behavior throughout the film, engaging in human trafficking and even murder.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tyrannical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrannical
Adjective
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The case also involves accusations of oppressive schedules and curtailed opportunities for sponsorships.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
25 Feb. 2026
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Embedded in a patriarchal family within an oppressive society, Mrie faces the challenge of disentangling herself from both.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Yet the tyrannical impulse of authoritarian populists is the same across the world.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
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Simultaneously, the rise of populist, authoritarian leaders and the radical right is destabilizing democracies.—
Time,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But hitting arbitrary targets has never been the point of the ratings game; what really matters in Milan is that NBC is clearing all its guarantees to advertisers.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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Lusverti added that the list of beneficiaries fails to cover key periods of arbitrary detentions, including cases between 2020 and 2024, and raised concerns that the same courts that ordered the imprisonments are now responsible for administering the amnesty.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Sophie Turner plays Anne, living in the countryside and struggling in poverty with her domineering mother-in-law Morwen (Harden).—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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This is the rare movie adaptation that does cover the second half of the book, and our first glimpse of Heathcliff is as the domineering terror of his later years.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Memories of the shah's autocratic rule remain mixed in the country, although nostalgia for the period's economic prosperity has grown.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Was this a prank, an autocratic emergency, or something else?—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The history of classic Athens shows us that a Democracy can misuse its power, become arrogant and become a tyrant.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
25 Feb. 2026
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Maekar refuses, earning a cutting rebuttal from Dunk about the royal upbringing that turned Daeron (Henry Ashton) into a drunken coward and Aerion into an arrogant and cruel madman.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The book explains the world order as three despotic governments that horrifically dominate their citizens, control their respective satellite allies and are always at war.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
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Healing the nation Up to 1,400 people were killed in the July 2024 revolution that toppled Hasina in addition to some 3,500 extrajudicially disappeared during the last 15 years of her despotic reign.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The judge was absolutely incredulous about the contractual argument and the independent, dictatorial authority of the president.—
Liz Crawford,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
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Rubio has been carrying out dictatorial measures at home.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tyrannical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrannical. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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