as in harsh
difficult to endure
an oppressive regime that rules through terror
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of oppressive
Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research NO: Numerous major firms leave California because of the state’s oppressive regulations, taxes and operating costs.
—
Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
April brings sunshine and warm waters without the oppressive heat of summer or the high-season crowds of winter.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Some protesters were taken out by medics, the oppressive April heat beating them down.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Chicago sweltered through the sixth hottest June on record, according to the National Weather Service, and the oppressive heat and humidity have kept air conditioners running overtime in July as well.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
April brings sunshine and warm waters without the oppressive heat of summer or the high-season crowds of winter.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Some protesters were taken out by medics, the oppressive April heat beating them down.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Chicago sweltered through the sixth hottest June on record, according to the National Weather Service, and the oppressive heat and humidity have kept air conditioners running overtime in July as well.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressive
Adjective
-
The former Calle 13 member impresses her sensitivity to this piece, originally written by Orlando Brito and popularized in 1975 by the great Héctor Lavoe, giving it new life with her powerful, dramatic voice, accompanied by street guitars and harsh, aggressive chords that captivate the listener.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
15 Aug. 2025
-
While the comparison of slave babies being taken from their mommas, and immigrant children being separated from their parents might seem a bit harsh to some, the pain is the same.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
At the world’s southern edge, where nature is brutal and time stands still, hunters, herders and families endure the cold and solitude as ghosts roam the pampa.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Launch control is a wild ride, equal parts fun and brutal, as all that boost sends the V-6 screaming.—
Jonny Lieberman,
Robb Report,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Even if increasing competition and financial obstruction have influenced summer recruitment, making this season’s challenges tougher, the confidence in Unai Emery and Villa’s football department remains unerring.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Sanctions have roiled Russia's economy and Trump could use tougher measures as leverage over Putin, said Richard Portes, professor of economics at London Business School.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The pans have spacious surface areas for better searing and browning, and the cooking surface isn’t particularly sticky either.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 July 2025
-
About a dozen have visited or have plans to make stops in the early primary states, such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, 60, who in April caught attention for delivering a searing speech in New Hampshire aimed at 'do-nothing' Democrats.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Mina’s brother, a college athlete, experienced a severe psychiatric break after witnessing a traumatic death.—
Mena Mirhom,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
-
The New York Times reported this month that a U.N.-backed food security group found famine was widespread across Gaza due to months of severe aid restrictions imposed by Israel as part of its military operation against Hamas.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
That is a particularly egregious example of how the Trump Administration has been gratuitously cruel to the Sudanese.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Stacy, Tim’s wife, also died of pancreatic cancer five months later in February of 2024, a cruel hand for a family that for years had gone above and beyond in their efforts to raise money and awareness for cancer research.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
-
Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
Battlefield 6 hype is losing a bit of steam with changes to its second beta run, involving new additions, controversial decisions and rough retreads of old modes.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
My mother, just beneath her skin, housed a palpable rage, and my father’s cheeks were pocked and rough from ingrown hairs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oppressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressive. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share