Tyrannical
adjective
Being excessively controlling or oppressive.
The dictator ruled with tyrannical force, controlling every aspect of citizens' lives.
Often appears as...
- tyrannical rule
- tyrannical behaviour
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Demanding absolute obedience and showing no tolerance for disobedience.
The tyrannical teacher punished students for the smallest of mistakes.
Often appears as...
- tyrannical demands
- tyrannical leadership
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Being excessively controlling or oppressive.
The dictator ruled with tyrannical force, controlling every aspect of citizens' lives.
Often appears as...
- tyrannical rule
- tyrannical behaviour
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Demanding absolute obedience and showing no tolerance for disobedience.
The tyrannical teacher punished students for the smallest of mistakes.
Often appears as...
- tyrannical demands
- tyrannical leadership
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'tyrannical' always implies a negative judgment about someone's way of ruling or managing.
The company's CEO was often criticized for his tyrannical decision-making style.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Politics
'Tyrannical' extends beyond politics to describe any overly controlling situation or person.
My supervisor's tyrannical management made working there unbearable.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Usage
'Tyrannical' is often used in historical contexts to describe rulers with absolute power used unjustly.
Historians describe his reign as tyrannical and fraught with injustice.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'tyrannical' always implies a negative judgment about someone's way of ruling or managing.
The company's CEO was often criticized for his tyrannical decision-making style.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Politics
'Tyrannical' extends beyond politics to describe any overly controlling situation or person.
My supervisor's tyrannical management made working there unbearable.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Usage
'Tyrannical' is often used in historical contexts to describe rulers with absolute power used unjustly.
Historians describe his reign as tyrannical and fraught with injustice.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'tyrannical' always implies a negative judgment about someone's way of ruling or managing.
The company's CEO was often criticized for his tyrannical decision-making style.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Politics
'Tyrannical' extends beyond politics to describe any overly controlling situation or person.
My supervisor's tyrannical management made working there unbearable.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Usage
'Tyrannical' is often used in historical contexts to describe rulers with absolute power used unjustly.
Historians describe his reign as tyrannical and fraught with injustice.
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Video examples
Mustafa Akyol: Faith...
which would guard the universities against veiled students. In other words, they would force students to uncover their heads. And I think forcing people to uncover their head is as tyrannical as forcing them to cover it. It should be the citizen's decision. But when I saw that, I said,
Video examples
Charles Hazlewood:...
these tyrannical figures who would rehearse, not just the orchestra as a whole, but individuals within it, within an inch of their lives. But I'm happy to say now that the world has moved on, music has moved on with it. We now have a more democratic view and way of making music --
Video examples
How to recognize a...
while Jack London's "The Iron Heel" portrayed a tyrannical oligarchy ruling over impoverished masses. The new century brought more exciting and terrifying changes. Medical advances made it possible to transcend biological limits while mass media allowed instant communication
Video examples
How to make jokes at a...
the closest we've come but uh being a tyrant is obviously obviously a problem because tyrants are tyrannical thank you that's the best fight I've ever made in my life and they're literally cruel and oppressive by definition um and like I said you know because of our
Video examples
Trusting the ensemble -...
which we can spin a musical narrative that we all believe in now in the old days conducting music making was less about trust and more frankly about coercion up tune around about the second world war conductors were invariably dictators these tyrannical figures who
Video examples
Why should you read...
Desperate to escape his tyrannical father and the family curse he feels doomed to repeat, he renames himself Kafka after his favorite author and runs away from home. But memories of a missing mother, along with dreams that haunt his waking life,
Video examples
Can you solve the...
In this dystopian world, your resistance group is humanity's last hope. Unfortunately, you've all been captured by the tyrannical rulers and brought to the ancient colosseum for their deadly entertainment. Before you're thrown into the dungeon,
Video examples
Faith versus tradition...
students in other words they would force students to uncover their heads and I think forcing people to uncover their head is s tyrannical as forcing them to cover it should be the citizens decision but when I saw that I said I mean it'd be
Video examples
Inside a Civil War Most...
against tyrannical as I documented the civil war for Human Rights Watch in the beginning it began with the Celica a rebel coalition that sought to topple the corrupt government they recruited foreign fighters and he began to loot
Video examples
How to Raise Successful...
it is hardly the end of the world if our kids don't go to one of those big brand-name schools. And more importantly, if their childhood has not been lived according to a tyrannical checklist
Video examples
Mustafa Akyol: Faith...
which would guard the universities against veiled students. In other words, they would force students to uncover their heads. And I think forcing people to uncover their head is as tyrannical as forcing them to cover it. It should be the citizen's decision. But when I saw that, I said,
Video examples
Charles Hazlewood:...
these tyrannical figures who would rehearse, not just the orchestra as a whole, but individuals within it, within an inch of their lives. But I'm happy to say now that the world has moved on, music has moved on with it. We now have a more democratic view and way of making music --
Video examples
How to recognize a...
while Jack London's "The Iron Heel" portrayed a tyrannical oligarchy ruling over impoverished masses. The new century brought more exciting and terrifying changes. Medical advances made it possible to transcend biological limits while mass media allowed instant communication
Video examples
How to make jokes at a...
the closest we've come but uh being a tyrant is obviously obviously a problem because tyrants are tyrannical thank you that's the best fight I've ever made in my life and they're literally cruel and oppressive by definition um and like I said you know because of our
Video examples
Trusting the ensemble -...
which we can spin a musical narrative that we all believe in now in the old days conducting music making was less about trust and more frankly about coercion up tune around about the second world war conductors were invariably dictators these tyrannical figures who
Video examples
Why should you read...
Desperate to escape his tyrannical father and the family curse he feels doomed to repeat, he renames himself Kafka after his favorite author and runs away from home. But memories of a missing mother, along with dreams that haunt his waking life,
Video examples
Can you solve the...
In this dystopian world, your resistance group is humanity's last hope. Unfortunately, you've all been captured by the tyrannical rulers and brought to the ancient colosseum for their deadly entertainment. Before you're thrown into the dungeon,
Video examples
Faith versus tradition...
students in other words they would force students to uncover their heads and I think forcing people to uncover their head is s tyrannical as forcing them to cover it should be the citizens decision but when I saw that I said I mean it'd be
Video examples
Inside a Civil War Most...
against tyrannical as I documented the civil war for Human Rights Watch in the beginning it began with the Celica a rebel coalition that sought to topple the corrupt government they recruited foreign fighters and he began to loot
Video examples
How to Raise Successful...
it is hardly the end of the world if our kids don't go to one of those big brand-name schools. And more importantly, if their childhood has not been lived according to a tyrannical checklist
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Nicholas Hammond
There is something about being able to look at this family on the film where a woman drops out of the sky, magically makes their father happy, makes the children happy, gives them all a purpose. And with great courage, they overcome a tyrannical dictator and go on to a happy, wonderful life.
Quote examples
Bill Shuster
American Politician
While America has always been and always will be a safe harbor for those being persecuted by tyrannical governments we must be vigilant to ensure those individuals are not taking advantage of America's generosity and good will.
Quote examples
Jordan Peterson
Canadian Psychologist
Women deeply want men who are competent and powerful. And I don't mean power in that they can exert tyrannical control over others. That's not power. That's just corruption.
Quote examples
Herman Melville
American Novelist
Some dying men are the most tyrannical; and certainly, since they will shortly trouble us so little for evermore, the poor fellows ought to be indulged.
Quote examples
Lysander Spooner
American Philosopher
All governments, the worst on earth, and the most tyrannical on earth, are free governments to that portion of the people who voluntarily support them.
Quote examples
Thomas Jefferson
American President
To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Quote examples
Lincoln Diaz-Balart
American Politician
Unfortunately, writing and reporting the truth is not allowed under Castro's tyrannical dictatorship.
Quote examples
Chuck Norris
American Actor
If the government decides to become a tyrannical government, our guns are to protect us against that.
Quote examples
Mohsin Hamid
Pakistani Writer
Growing up in Pakistan in the 1980s, I lived in the shadow of a tyrannical state.
Quote examples
Blaise Pascal
French Philosopher
Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical.
Quote examples
Nicholas Hammond
There is something about being able to look at this family on the film where a woman drops out of the sky, magically makes their father happy, makes the children happy, gives them all a purpose. And with great courage, they overcome a tyrannical dictator and go on to a happy, wonderful life.
Quote examples
Bill Shuster
American Politician
While America has always been and always will be a safe harbor for those being persecuted by tyrannical governments we must be vigilant to ensure those individuals are not taking advantage of America's generosity and good will.
Quote examples
Jordan Peterson
Canadian Psychologist
Women deeply want men who are competent and powerful. And I don't mean power in that they can exert tyrannical control over others. That's not power. That's just corruption.
Quote examples
Herman Melville
American Novelist
Some dying men are the most tyrannical; and certainly, since they will shortly trouble us so little for evermore, the poor fellows ought to be indulged.
Quote examples
Lysander Spooner
American Philosopher
All governments, the worst on earth, and the most tyrannical on earth, are free governments to that portion of the people who voluntarily support them.
Quote examples
Thomas Jefferson
American President
To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Quote examples
Lincoln Diaz-Balart
American Politician
Unfortunately, writing and reporting the truth is not allowed under Castro's tyrannical dictatorship.
Quote examples
Chuck Norris
American Actor
If the government decides to become a tyrannical government, our guns are to protect us against that.
Quote examples
Mohsin Hamid
Pakistani Writer
Growing up in Pakistan in the 1980s, I lived in the shadow of a tyrannical state.
Quote examples
Blaise Pascal
French Philosopher
Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical.
Example 1 of 10
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