as in harsh
difficult to endure
an oppressive regime that rules through terror
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oppressive
People were craving the culture and art that had been suppressed during his oppressive reign.
—
Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026
The same brutal and oppressive government remains.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
An oppressive heat wave has settled over western Europe and was blamed for multiple deaths in France, while breaking all-time May temperature records around the region.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 26 May 2026
The technological innovations that have made possible the appearance of hypertext and hypermedia have sometimes been assessed in various research communities as either emancipatory or oppressive, and the discussion of their impacts upon communication has also been polarized.
—Carmen Daniela Maier, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026
The same brutal and oppressive government remains.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
An oppressive heat wave has settled over western Europe and was blamed for multiple deaths in France, while breaking all-time May temperature records around the region.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 26 May 2026
The technological innovations that have made possible the appearance of hypertext and hypermedia have sometimes been assessed in various research communities as either emancipatory or oppressive, and the discussion of their impacts upon communication has also been polarized.
—Carmen Daniela Maier, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressive
Adjective
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The flap has also brought harsh criticism from prominent people in Miami, including former Democratic congressman Joe Garcia.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
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Without excessive optimism, in a world that is becoming harsher, the Festival, on the contrary, is opening up and improving.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Bichette is off to a brutal start, Francisco Lindor’s spring hamate injury may have affected his power even before his calf strain knocked him out for the last month, and Jorge Polanco has barely been on the field.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
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Hounded by a loud, impatient Eisenhower and faced with the very real evidence that a brutal trio of storms will make an early June invasion impossible, Stagg is torn between doing his duty and, well, doing his duty.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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More recent air quality news Major automakers are urging the EPA to delay tougher vehicle pollution standards for two years.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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In a tough economy for local breweries, Clairvoyant has found a way to keep its heart beating.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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For her, the aftermath of that victory brought heightened anxiety, and searing criticism from outsiders when the Swedish pro’s play took a dip.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Though Boys sometimes sees Watt take searing leads reminiscent of McCartney’s ’60s and ’70s guitar foils, like George Harrison, just as often, McCartney is playing almost everything himself.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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The conflict in the Middle East has posed a severe risk to the Indian economy, as energy supply disruptions have inflated the country's import bill, piling pressure on the rupee that has already been hit by record foreign investor outflows.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
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Crime scene photos shown in court Photos presented to the jury showed Dinkins with severe bruising all over her small body.—
Ashley Paul,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Electronic bugs are installed, secretaries listen in on every phone call and conversation, and rock 'n roll is banned in this cruel culture of absolute secrecy.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
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The slaughter of Australian infantry at the hands of Turkish guns on the coastal region of Gallipoli has become emblematic of the pointless loss of life during this cruel conflict.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Getting warships into the water is hard enough without wasting funds on vessels unlikely ever to sail.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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Hulst setting a hard pace from the gun with Serna trying to hold on long enough to outkick him in the end.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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After a night that featured 38 foul calls and a gritty Connecticut team determined to make a statement in Atlanta, the Dream clinched a 91-74 win over the Sun in a back-and-forth matchup that started rough but ended on a high note in their first Commissioner’s Cup game.—
Micahya Costen,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026
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The comps were particularly rough that season, as the NYC-OKC skirmish was no match for what would prove to be Michael Jordan’s final championship in Chicago.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressive. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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