oppressive

American  

[uh-pres-iv] / əˈprɛs ɪv /

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 British  

/ əˈprɛsɪv /

adjective

1. cruel, harsh, or tyrannical

2. heavy, constricting, or depressing

---

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of oppressive

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

Explanation

Think of something crushing you, and you will understand what oppressive is. It can be something that crushes your spirit, like a bad relationship, or something that crushes you with its tyranny, like the oppressive rule of a dictator. Oppressive comes in many flavors; laws can be oppressive, governments can be oppressive, even relationships can be oppressive. The adjective oppressive is heavy stuff; it can feel like you can't breathe, like something is choking you: "His oppressive behavior made me feel like I was being smothered." If something is just too intense, and not in a good way, that also can feel oppressive.

Example Sentences

Coday relayed the story of a woman who he said fled Iran because of its oppressive regime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

We can and should hope for a better outcome for Iranians than for Iraqis: freedom from an oppressive regime, minimal death and destruction, a smooth democratic transition, a functional democracy, a peaceful and prosperous society.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

It’s clear that George has married above himself, but his shortcomings come off as risible rather than oppressive, and it’s hard not to feel protective of him as he’s being pummeled to a pulp.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

In the build up to the 1966 coup, Nkrumah had faced criticism that he was becoming increasingly oppressive.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

These unprovable suspicions, Jackson’s detainment in the laundry, Pierrot’s wretched delivery and the morning’s colossal heat were oppressive to Briony.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

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