tyrannous
Ruling through fear
Tyrannous means characteristic of a tyrant—cruel, oppressive, and absolute in the exercise of power.
The word is literary and somewhat archaic, more likely found in Shakespeare than in modern prose: a tyrannous ruler, tyrannous demands.
It carries the same meaning as tyrannical but sounds more poetic or old-fashioned.
Ruling with absolute authority
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
- despoticExercising absolute authority
- absoluteTotal, without qualification
undemocratic · centralized · monocratic · iron-fisted · repressive · coercive · draconian · controlling
Savagely harsh or severe
- crushingOverwhelming in intensity
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
- mercilessShowing no clemency
- cruelWillfully causing suffering
unjust · heavy-handed · suffocating · stifling · punishing · unrelenting · inhumane · severe
autocratic
Ruling with absolute authority
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
- despoticExercising absolute authority
absolute · undemocratic · centralized · monocratic · iron-fisted · repressive · coercive · draconian · controlling · commanding
brutal
Savagely harsh or severe
cruel · unjust · heavy-handed · suffocating · stifling · punishing · unrelenting · inhumane · severe · vindictive
tyrannousdemocratic
Government by the people
constitutional · republican · lawful · limited · egalitarian
tyrannousbenevolent
Desiring others' welfare
compassionate · merciful · just · fair · humane
tyrant, tyranny, tyrannical, tyrants, tyrannize, tyrannizing, tyrannized, tyrannically, tyrannizes