repressive

[ ri-pres-iv ]

/ rɪˈprɛs ɪv /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR repressive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending or serving to repress: repressive laws.

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schlep

to say or do hesitantly or awkwardly

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to carry; lug

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Origin of repressive

1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin repressīvus < Latin repress(us) (see repress) + -īvus -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM repressive

re·pres·sive·ly, adverbre·pres·sive·ness, nounnon·re·pres·sive, adjectiveun·re·pres·sive, adjective

un·re·pres·sive·ly, adverbun·re·pres·sive·ness, noun

Words nearby repressive

repress, repressed, represser, repressible enzyme, repression, repressive, repressor, repressor gene, reprieval, reprieve, reprimand

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for repressive

A society that was exclusive and repressive is now freer and more open.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Sept 8-14|John Boot|September 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What future repressive policies will these killings be used to justify?
One Former Hostage Says Negotiate With ISIS, And Pay Ransoms If You Must|Sarah Shourd|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Repressive regimes forced the people here to join parties and causes.
On the Ground, Collaborators With ISIS Could Be Its Big Weakness|Christine van den Toorn|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By restricting aid to only registered groups, the State Department is colluding with repressive regimes, fear democracy advocates.
Obama’s Budget Fails Democracy Promotion Abroad|Jamie Dettmer|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

These tactics are accompanied by other repressive measures—including, increasingly, online media censorship.
Why Snowden’s ‘Challenge’ to Putin on Russian Surveillance Doesn’t Matter|Cathy Young|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The secret is, that wherever there is a public demand, no repressive laws will ever prevent trade.
The History of Prostitution|William W. Sanger
When Gage went out to enforce the repressive acts neither he nor those who sent him thought that his task would be hard.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
“There can be no doubt of him, for he was one of the prisoners that got away,” said Captain Carbonel, in a repressive manner.
The Carbonels|Charlotte M. Yonge
Among all classes men strove in the absence of a repressive power to gain advantages and privileges.
Saint George for England|G. A. Henty
The repressive measures of Parliament and the landowners only widened the social chasm which parted employer from employed.
History of the English People, Volume II (of 8)|John Richard Green

British Dictionary definitions for repressive

repressive

/ (rɪˈprɛsɪv) /

adjective

acting to control, suppress, or restrain

subjecting people, a society, etc, to a state of subjugation

Derived forms of repressive

repressively, adverbrepressiveness, 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

Medical definitions for repressive

repressive

[ rĭ-prĕs′ĭv ]

adj.

Causing or inclined to cause repression.

repressive

adjective

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Origin of repressive

OTHER WORDS FROM repressive

Words nearby repressive

Words related to repressive

Example sentences from the Web for repressive

British Dictionary definitions for repressive

adjective

Derived forms of repressive

Medical definitions for repressive

adj.