tyrannical

adjective

ty·​ran·​ni·​cal tə-ˈra-ni-kəl How to pronounce tyrannical (audio)
tī-
variants or less commonly tyrannic
: being or characteristic of a tyrant or tyranny : despotic
tyrannical rule
a tyrannical ruler
tyrannically adverb
tyrannicalness noun

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
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.
Fear, the emotion that predominates in Le Corbeau, seems familiar — lingering from the tyrannical Covid lockdowns, Stasi-like doxxing, denunciations, and the social antagonism endured through political partisanship. Armond White, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024 Safeguards against a tyrannical President could come in many forms. Jane E. Calvert / Made By History, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024 The actor, 28, plays Lucius in director Ridley Scott's sequel to 2000's Gladiator, picking up the story in a tyrannical Rome 16 years after Maximus (Russell Crowe) defeated the maniacal Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024 The film, directed by Ridley Scott, follows Lucius (Paul Mescal) who must look to his past in order to free his home in Rome from the tyrannical rulers. Julia Teti, WWD, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tyrannical 

Word History

Etymology

Latin tyrannicus, from Greek tyrannikos, from tyrannos tyrant

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tyrannical was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tyrannical

Cite this Entry

“Tyrannical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyrannical. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

tyrannical

adjective
ty·​ran·​ni·​cal tə-ˈran-i-kəl How to pronounce tyrannical (audio)
tī-
variants also tyrannic
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a tyrant or tyranny
a tyrannical ruler
tyrannical rule
tyrannically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tyrannical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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