definitions

oppressive

[ uh-pres-iv ]
/ əˈprɛs ɪv /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR oppressive 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.

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RELATED WORDS

moisture, evaporation, humidity, dampness, heaviness, thickness, dew, wet, sultriness, steam, clamminess, wetness, dankness, vaporization, stickiness, swelter

Nearby words

opposition, oppositional disorder, oppositionist, oppress, oppression, oppressive, opprobrious, opprobrium, oppugn, oppugnant, opr

Origin of oppressive

1620–30; < Medieval Latin oppresīvus, equivalent to oppress(us) (see oppress) + -īvus -ive

Related forms

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for oppressiveness

British Dictionary definitions for oppressiveness

oppressive

/ (əˈprɛsɪv) /

adjective

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

Derived Forms

oppressively, adverboppressiveness, 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