oppressive

[uh-pres-iv]

adjective

1. burdensome, unjustly harsh, or tyrannical.

   an oppressive king;

   oppressive laws.

2. causing discomfort by being excessive, intense, elaborate, etc..

   oppressive heat.

3. distressing or grievous.

   oppressive sorrows.

oppressive

/ əˈprɛsɪv /

adjective

1. cruel, harsh, or tyrannical

2. heavy, constricting, or depressing

Other Word Forms

• oppressively adverb
• oppressiveness noun
• nonoppressive adjective
• nonoppressively adverb
• nonoppressiveness noun
• self-oppressive adjective
• unoppressive adjective
• unoppressively adverb
• unoppressiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oppressive¹

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

Example Sentences

But once in state house, he has been accused of passing oppressive measures which he had previously opposed, such as the Cybersecurity Law.

Read more on BBC

At eight tracks and 29 minutes, “Shine” is brief, which is good—the single blast of noise aside, the mood is so uniform that if it were any longer it would seem oppressive.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At NACA, I didn’t feel segregation in quite the same oppressive way that I did out in the world.

Read more on Literature

However the same could be said of summer matches in the oppressive heat and humidity of Florida and Texas.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He said the claimants' complaints about the "harmful effects" were "shunned and ignored" before the nurses were "penalised and buried" in an "oppressive and ineffectual investigation process" carried out by the trust.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• brutal 
• burdensome 
• cruel 
• depressing 
• dictatorial 
• harsh 
• heavy-handed 
• inhuman 
• onerous 
• overbearing 
• tyrannical 
• unjust