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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tyrannical
Or the sight of an evil Jerry robot, puppeted by the consciousness of a tyrannical butterfly (Dave Franco), scampering, insect-like, around the fiery maelstrom of a rally gone awry.
—
Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Yet the tyrannical impulse of authoritarian populists is the same across the world.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Given the tyrannical inferno that engulfed these precariously united states, my personal plights were mere embers, ashes, in the grand scheme of things.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
In the 1953 steel-seizure case, Jackson concluded with a warning about the importance of parliamentary deliberation to check a tyrannical executive.
—Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tyrannical
Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Yet the tyrannical impulse of authoritarian populists is the same across the world.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Given the tyrannical inferno that engulfed these precariously united states, my personal plights were mere embers, ashes, in the grand scheme of things.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
In the 1953 steel-seizure case, Jackson concluded with a warning about the importance of parliamentary deliberation to check a tyrannical executive.
—Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tyrannical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrannical
Adjective
-
Their film, created by a Palestinian-Israeli collective during oppressive times, aims to challenge the ongoing expulsion and propose a vision of equality.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Their rich odor was almost oppressive.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Advertisement The orthodox and authoritarian left in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela has, in many ways, sabotaged and delayed the renewal of the Latin American left.—
Carlos Manuel Alvarez,
Time,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Snow’s life’s work has been sustaining a Hobbesian authoritarian government.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The European Union first sanctioned him in 2008, and imposed parallel sanctions in 2022 over the use of live ammunition, arbitrary detention of protesters and journalists, and the violent suppression of demonstrations.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
But at the meeting, there was an admission that that number was an arbitrary figure.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Token, pushover human Seth (Gil Ozeri) lives under the thumb of the tiny, domineering dog Brandi (the incomparable Amy Sedaris), a high maintenance diva with a yen for single-use Stanley cups.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
-
After moving at a glacial pace—it’s been 20 years since the original 2006 film—the movie is having its world premiere on Monday evening, reintroducing a select group of New Yorkers to Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly, the chicly domineering editor in chief of Runway magazine.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Vince still exerted autocratic control.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
War could spread beyond Sudan The conflict exploded from a power struggle that emerged following Sudan’s transition to democracy after an uprising forced the military ouster of longtime autocratic President Omar Bashir in April 2019.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
To this point, the Heat arguably have been too stubborn, or too arrogant, in belief that the quick fix was just around the corner.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
His style is relaxed and confident, not arrogant.—
Tara Klein,
SPIN,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hard to Be a God is about a planet that has not been allowed to advance beyond the Middle Ages, and descended into a filthy, despotic, and violent world.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Remarkably, among the foremost critics of Cuba’s single-party despotic rule is one of Castro’s own daughters, Alina Fernández Revuelta.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The upper ranks of the dictatorial regime’s leadership have been decimated.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Aggressive, a bit dictatorial’.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tyrannical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrannical. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
