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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in domineering
fond of ordering people around
even when he was still a toddler, he tended to be a tyrannical playmate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tyrannical
Such control isn’t intrinsically tyrannical or oppressive.
—
Michael W. Clune, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Actors Jason William Webb (as tyrannical school headmistress Miss Trunchbull) and Zane Camacho and Sophia LaRosh (as Matilda’s cruel and neglectful parents Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood) are hilariously ridiculous in their roles.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
In Jefferson’s account, this king has carried out the supreme betrayal – like tyrannical powers often do.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 17 June 2025
However, some new reevaluations of primary source documents and ethnobotanical fieldwork now suggests there was more to the madman than tyrannical bloodlust.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tyrannical
Michael W. Clune, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Actors Jason William Webb (as tyrannical school headmistress Miss Trunchbull) and Zane Camacho and Sophia LaRosh (as Matilda’s cruel and neglectful parents Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood) are hilariously ridiculous in their roles.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
In Jefferson’s account, this king has carried out the supreme betrayal – like tyrannical powers often do.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 17 June 2025
However, some new reevaluations of primary source documents and ethnobotanical fieldwork now suggests there was more to the madman than tyrannical bloodlust.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tyrannical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrannical
Adjective
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What was mostly missing was the occasional cool front that pushes out the most oppressive heat and humidity.—
Staff And Wire Reports,
Boston Herald,
10 Aug. 2025
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Driving in Palm Beach County — home to Mar-a-Lago — the windows are up, and the AC is blasting to counter the oppressive heat and humidity outside.—
David Culver,
CNN Money,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Avoid being domineering, but also avoid being stepped on by someone else.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 July 2025
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My Mom Died is a heartbreaking and hilarious recounting of McCurdy’s struggles as a former child actor while dealing with her overbearing, domineering mother.—
Charley Ross,
Glamour,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Stricter parenting styles include authoritative or authoritarian styles.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
19 Aug. 2025
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And this matters now more than ever, during a time when universities are dismantling their humanities programs and being pressured into pandering to authoritarian strongmen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Yet this infectious look into the masterful brain of the single mom and former police department cleaning woman — who earned her job as an LAPD crime consultant — propelled the freshman series into one of broadcast TV's few bright spots.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
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Whether this is a real departure or a masterful storyline, the wrestling world is now buzzing.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This nonfiction account from the Pulitzer-prize winning writer analyzes 21st century autocratic states worldwide, and how democracies can best organize underneath them.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Taiwan’s parties, in other words, portray their opponents not just as politically different but as autocratic traitors.—
LEV NACHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Access to justice too (something often underrated), where you can’t be killed or robbed with impunity, and where you won’t be arbitrarily deprived of your liberty or your freedom of speech by a despotic government.—
Simon Boas
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
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Napoleon, the pig who takes despotic control of the farm following the revolution — voiced with haughty gusto by Seth Rogen — bears an uncanny resemblance to the current occupant of the White House.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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In some ways, are triple doubles an arbitrary achievement?—
Shane Young,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Lalami clearly needed a way to get Sara home to end the book, and springing her in this way is consistent with the arbitrary nature of her incarceration and the mercurial behavior of her keepers.—
Book Marks
August 7,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Bob had to be valiant, dictatorial, curious, ever listening, wily, playful, deluded, strategic, flirtatious, fallible, political, and willing to protect and persevere against all doubters, critics, compass navigators, naysayers well intentioned or not.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
19 Aug. 2025
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When someone has high drive and integrity that are not balanced by other character dimensions, these strengths can become dictatorial, forceful, uncompromising, belligerent, rigid, and dogmatic, among others.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tyrannical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrannical. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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