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
Jim Hightower2
: 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
Geoffrey Moorhouse
oppressively
adverb
oppressiveness
noun
Synonyms
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
By that logic, the Union is the oppressive force, and her movement is the real resistance.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
Debuting in 2014, Watch Dogs is an action-adventure game immersing players in the world of skilled hackers who use technology to combat oppressive forces controlling major cities across the world.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2024
The concrete there takes, to me, a much more miserable, oppressive tone.
—Owen Davies, Curbed, 4 Nov. 2024
Boyer is seven years his junior, and Sell struggles to return Boyer’s oppressive flat serve, winning only the first game of the second set.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oppressive 
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Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
Debuting in 2014, Watch Dogs is an action-adventure game immersing players in the world of skilled hackers who use technology to combat oppressive forces controlling major cities across the world.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2024
The concrete there takes, to me, a much more miserable, oppressive tone.
—Owen Davies, Curbed, 4 Nov. 2024
Boyer is seven years his junior, and Sell struggles to return Boyer’s oppressive flat serve, winning only the first game of the second set.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oppressive
Dictionary Entries Near oppressive
Cite this Entry
“Oppressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oppressive. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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