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
That history was shaped by oppressive Jim Crow-era social conditions and race relations.
—
Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Dew points above 65 degrees indicate a high level of moisture in the air, making the heat oppressive.
—Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026
Patriotic histories, after all, had long been used to buttress the oppressive systems that these scholars now sought to unmask.
—Yoni Appelbaum, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
Leto stars as the villain Skeletor, who has seized the throne of He-Man’s home world, ruling it with a ruthless, oppressive force.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Dew points above 65 degrees indicate a high level of moisture in the air, making the heat oppressive.
—Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026
Patriotic histories, after all, had long been used to buttress the oppressive systems that these scholars now sought to unmask.
—Yoni Appelbaum, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
Leto stars as the villain Skeletor, who has seized the throne of He-Man’s home world, ruling it with a ruthless, oppressive force.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressive
Adjective
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Ikutiminu, who will attend UC Irvine in the fall, even spoke with musicians about how to create a sound that would be less harsh than the vuvuzela.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
Without toxic acids Tripathi’s breakthrough eliminates the harsh chemicals.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
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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With the when, where and who will play whom at the 2026 World Cup all locked in, how do the groups rank from the easiest to the toughest?—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
Opening a restaurant in downtown Boise is a tough racket.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Standing at a podium in Washington last week, Missouri’s senior senator called on Republicans to regulate the artificial intelligence industry in a searing speech that cast the dangers of AI as a moral dilemma.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2026
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With its brilliant white surface reflecting the searing Spanish sun, the cross that crowns the Tower of Jesus Christ (the other 17 towers are dedicated to the 12 apostles, four Evangelists and the Virgin Mary) is as tall as a five-story building and weighs around 100 tons.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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Shane Tipton, of Unionville, Missouri, drove home from his factory job Wednesday afternoon, unaware that severe weather was on the way, said his daughter, Kylie Rouse.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
As the front moves into very warm, unstable air, some storms could turn severe.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
The immigrant-detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz, deep in the Florida Everglades, stands out as a uniquely cruel publicity stunt with an absurdly high price tag, in which much of the money goes into just a few pockets.—
Eric Schlosser,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
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Therefore, a second execution would not violate the prohibition on double jeopardy or on the imposition of cruel punishment.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
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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Last year, researchers at the University of California San Diego developed a wearable AI system that accurately interprets arm gestures and controls robots, even during running, vehicle motion, or rough ocean conditions.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
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The large leg retains stability even on rough, uneven ground.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressive. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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