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

• harsh
• brutal
• tough
• searing
• severe
• cruel
• hard
• rough
• burdensome

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

Global organization Human Rights Watch accused the festival of diverting attention away from allegations of the government’s severe repression of free speech and criticized comedians for performing on the behest of an oppressive regime. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025

The oppressive rule has led to nations cutting off aid, leading to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. —Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025

The comedian was one of more than 50 performers participating in the event, which has come under fire for being held in a country which has been accused of human rights violations and an oppressive regime. —James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025

Aristotle’s Steak & Seafood House Leila, one of the show's central teenage characters, faces intense challenges while trapped inside the oppressive Tall Pines Academy. —Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025

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

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oppressive

• aggressive
• compressive
• concessive
• depressive
• excessive
• expressive
• impressive
• obsessive
• possessive
• progressive
• recessive
• regressive

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