oppressive

adjective op·pres·sive \ ə-ˈpre-siv \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of oppressive

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

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oppressively

adverb

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oppressiveness

noun

See oppressive defined for English-language learners

See oppressive defined for kids

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 of oppressive from the Web

The problem is Trump's strange inability to confront Putin personally — about his oppressive rule, the disruption of America's electoral process, human rights violations and even attempted murder on the soil of a NATO ally.

— michael gerson, Anchorage Daily News, "Is Trump’s coziness with Putin causing the White House to panic?," 25 Mar. 2018
Maybe a boy would have seen my father’s rough play and martial rhetoric as oppressive.

— laurie abraham, The Cut, "What I Learned From Being a Daughter Raised Like a Son," 8 Mar. 2018
In Kabul, hundreds of women marched to remind their leaders that much work needed to be done to give Afghan women a voice, ensure their education and protect them from often brutal violence and an oppressive patriarchal system.

— elisabetta povoledo, BostonGlobe.com, "Global protests and pressure mark International Women’s Day," 8 Mar. 2018
As the game unfolded they were obliged to wear heavy costumes in the oppressive Chicago summer heat.

— eric thurm, WIRED, "An Alternate Reality Game That Takes Freshmen Orientation to a New Level," 25 Mar. 2018
This year's Brickyard 400 is one of changes, as the event shifts to early September following previous editions in late July and that time of year's often-oppressive heat.

— david lindquist, Indianapolis Star, "Brickyard 400’s new name includes country-pop duo Florida Georgia Line," 22 Mar. 2018
Paying for performance rather than seniority would be a start, by making employees less hesitant to leave oppressive firms and to seek out friendlier ones.

— The Economist, "Japan Inc and the government are trying to tackle overwork," 22 Mar. 2018
Hall: The architects at Fischer Architecture removed an oppressive built-in closet to open the entry hall.

— mary jo bowling, Curbed, "A first time homeowner takes on the remodel of a midcentury modern time capsule," 19 Mar. 2018
That way of thinking is oppressive and conditional.

— virginia pelley, Marie Claire, "Meet the anti-natalists, people who believe reproduction is wrong.," 29 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oppressive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of oppressive

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1677

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year