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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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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Recent Examples of tyrannical
The story weaves from there as Lucius (Paul Mescal), the incognito son of Maximus, is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered and he is made a slave by the tyrannical twin emperors (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger) who now lead Rome.
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Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for tyrannical 
Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for tyrannical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyrannical
Adjective
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Earlier this year, two teenagers filed a class-action lawsuit against a Kentucky youth detention center and its administrators, claiming that they were subjected to oppressive isolation, denied basic hygiene, showers, and medications, and forced to listen to a toddler song.Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
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Based on the classic Stephen King novel written under pen name Richard Bachman, The Running Man is set in an oppressive future where the government controls the media.Justin Kroll, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Attitude Era succeeded on the backs of all-time greats Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, with Vince McMahon a domineering force both behind the scenes and on camera.Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
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Taurus April 20 – May 20 You might currently be motivated to stand your ground against a domineering authority figure.Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of Assad, gathering in the capital's historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule.ALBERT AJI AND MATTHEW LEE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 14 Dec. 2024
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If the impeachment is confirmed by the Constitutional Court, Yoon will become the fourth South Korean president — out of eight total — to be jailed or ousted since the nation democratized in 1987 after decades of authoritarian rule.Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Kape is coming off a masterful performance in his last fight.Brian Mazique, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
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This is done in part by some masterful pixel-art graphics, which incorporate some wild 2D lighting effects and detailed, painterly sprite world.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And some worry that HTS could slide into it's own kind of autocratic regime.NPR, NPR, 13 Dec. 2024
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The declaration of a battle between democracy and autocracy came with exemptions for autocratic partners in places like Riyadh and New Delhi.Ben Rhodes, Foreign Affairs, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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What China needed was something like a final emperor, the breaker of the despotic chain who would summon modernity by fiat.Chang Che, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
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Small steps toward normality are still sufficient, after decades of despotic rule that brought suffering to almost every household.Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Get the ring that’s perfect for the woman, not the ring whose price tag aligns with an arbitrary algorithm. 18.Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024
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This first study on ADHD, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed the effect of arbitrary cut-off dates for enrollment in public schools on rates of diagnosis and treatment for ADHD.Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Park, the next authoritarian president who ruled for 18 years, was shot dead in 1979 by his own intelligence chief, unleashing an era of turmoil and brutal dictatorial rule that left an indelible mark on the nation’s political psyche.Nectar Gan, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
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Winston Smith, the main character, only vaguely remembers the days before Big Brother assumed dictatorial power, when Airstrip One was still called England or Britain.Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 15 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Tyrannical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyrannical. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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