tyrannical

UK: /tɪˈrænɪk^əl/ US: /tɪˈrænɪkəl, taɪ-/ ,(ti ran′i kəl, tī-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ty•ran•ni•cal /tɪˈrænɪkəl, taɪ-/  also tyˈran•nic, adj. 

1. of or relating to tyranny;
   oppressive:
   a tyrannical king.

ty•ran•ni•cal•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ty•ran•ni•cal  (ti ran′i kəl, tī-), adj. 

1. of or characteristic of a tyrant.
2. unjustly cruel, harsh, or severe;
   arbitrary or oppressive;
   despotic:
   a tyrannical ruler.

Also, ty•ran′nic. 

• Greek tyrannikós, equivalent. to týrann(os) tyrant + -ikos -ic) + -al¹
• Latin tyrannic(us) (
• 1530–40

ty•ran′ni•cal•ly, adv. 
ty•ran′ni•cal•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. dictatorial; imperious, domineering.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tyrannical / tɪˈrænɪk^əl/, tyrannic / tɪˈrænɪk/ adjective

1. characteristic of or relating to a tyrant or to tyranny; oppressive

tyˈrannically adverb