oppressive

adjective

op·​pres·​sive ə-ˈpre-siv 

1

: unreasonably burdensome or severe

oppressive legislation

oppressive taxes

the oppressive power of corporations and Wall Street

—Jim Hightower

2

: tyrannical

an oppressive government

3

: overwhelming or depressing to the spirit or senses

an oppressive climate

the dusty drabness that was oppressive in its uneventfulness

—Geoffrey Moorhouse

oppressively adverb

oppressiveness noun

Synonyms

• bitter
• brutal
• burdensome
• cruel
• excruciating
• grievous
• grim
• hard
• hardhanded
• harsh
• heavy
• inhuman
• murderous
• onerous
• rough
• rugged
• searing
• severe
• stiff
• tough
• trying

Choose the Right Synonym for oppressive

onerous, burdensome, oppressive, exacting mean imposing hardship.

onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful.

the onerous task of cleaning up the mess

burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain.

burdensome responsibilities

oppressive implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed.

the oppressive tyranny of a police state

exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding.

an exacting employer

Examples of oppressive in a Sentence

The country is ruled by an oppressive regime.

I think these laws are oppressive.

This region suffers from oppressive heat in the summer months.

The situation was extremely tense; no one said a word, and the silence was oppressive.

Recent Examples on the Web

The homeless, older adults and people with a history of physical or mental health issues are among the most vulnerable to the effects of the Valley’s oppressive summers. —Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024

The Greek gods had secret affairs; for centuries, women in central China wrote to each other in a secret language to evade the ire of oppressive husbands. —Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024

Child labor violations:Underage teen workers did 'oppressive child labor' for Tennessee parts supplier, feds say Do in-office jobs pay more than remote jobs? —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024

When heat waves swept across large parts of the planet last summer, in many places the oppressive temperatures loitered for days or weeks at a time. —Delger Erdenesanaa, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024

That oppressive presence means that, even as the series is largely subdued — there are crises that require action, and moments of great suspense, handled without melodrama — the tension never quite dissipates. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024

Some areas are better reached by Uber or Lyft, though, especially if the heat and humidity are particularly oppressive. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024

This lends the film a semi-secretive sense of intimacy within a sterile and oppressive space. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 Feb. 2024

In doing so, she’s framed as an inspirational teacher in the Dead Poets Society mold, meeting her students at their own level in defiance of the oppressive standards that define the world around them. —Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French oppressif, borrowed from Medieval Latin oppressīvus, from Latin oppressus, past participle of opprimere "to press on, stifle, overpower" + -īvus -ive — more at oppress

First Known Use

circa 1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

oppressive

adjective

op·​pres·​sive ə-ˈpres-iv 

1

: cruel or harsh without just cause

oppressive taxes

2

: causing a feeling of oppression

oppressive heat

oppressively adverb

oppressiveness noun