oppressive

adjective

op·​pres·​sive ə-ˈpre-siv How to pronounce oppressive (audio)
1
: unreasonably burdensome or severe
oppressive legislation
oppressive taxes
the oppressive power of corporations and Wall StreetJim 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 uneventfulnessGeoffrey Moorhouse
oppressively adverb
oppressiveness noun
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 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 Given their family's history, Orantes is familiar with the oppressive nature of colonialism. USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 Andreas Dresen managed to create a highly topical film, with a rather silent heroine, whose small and larger actions against an oppressive regime should inspire audiences around the world. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 1 Mar. 2024 Making the movie left the duo laboring for 100 days in the oppressive heat of the Oklahoma plains. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 22 Feb. 2024 The boys’ village life, though impoverished, is not shown to be oppressive. Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024 Dangerous and oppressive heat waves gripped parts of North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Denise Chow, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024 The administration rolled back sanctions on Venezuela—an initiative described publicly as a bid to secure freer and fairer elections, but one that was mostly an effort to get an oppressive regime to stop exporting refugees and start exporting more oil. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Similarly, hundreds in Texas died in the oppressive heat last summer, including scores of Fort Worth homeless. David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oppressive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of oppressive was circa 1677

Dictionary Entries Near oppressive

Cite this Entry

“Oppressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oppressive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

oppressive

adjective
op·​pres·​sive ə-ˈpres-iv How to pronounce oppressive (audio)
1
: cruel or harsh without just cause
oppressive taxes
2
: causing a feeling of oppression
oppressive heat
oppressively adverb
oppressiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on oppressive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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