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 of oppressive

• 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

The third was to free the Iranian people from a brutally oppressive government and move the country toward democratic representation reflecting the aspirations and talents of its 90 million people. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026

Their film, created by a Palestinian-Israeli collective during oppressive times, aims to challenge the ongoing expulsion and propose a vision of equality. —Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026

To our bodies a cool day with high relative humidity may not feel uncomfortable or may even go unnoticed, whereas a hot day with similar or even lower humidity levels could feel oppressive. —John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Apr. 2026

Before summer’s oppressive heat and ever-present humidity descend upon the region, there’s this fleeting period where 70-degree days help coax into bloom Catawba rhododendron, dogwood trees, and azaleas—and yes, even the invasive, foul-smelling Bradford pears. —Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026

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