oppressive

[ uh-pres-iv ]

See synonyms for: oppressive oppressively oppressiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

burdensome, unjustly harsh, or tyrannical: an oppressive king;oppressive laws.
causing discomfort by being excessive, intense, elaborate, etc.: oppressive heat.

distressing or grievous: oppressive sorrows.

Origin of oppressive

First recorded in 1620–30; from Medieval Latin oppresīvus, equivalent to Latin oppress(us) “pressed down” (see oppress) + -īvus -ive

Other words from oppressive

op·pres·sive·ly, adverb
op·pres·sive·ness, noun
non·op·pres·sive, adjective
non·op·pres·sive·ly, adverb
non·op·pres·sive·ness, noun
self-op·pres·sive, adjective
un·op·pres·sive, adjective
un·op·pres·sive·ly, adverb
un·op·pres·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for oppressive

oppressive

/ (əˈprɛsɪv) /

adjective

cruel, harsh, or tyrannical
heavy, constricting, or depressing

Derived forms of oppressive

oppressively, adverb
oppressiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse