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
The Revolutionary War, or the War of Independence, was fought to throw off oppressive British law and control of the Colonies.
—
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
When navigating oppressive systems, the Maroons offer strategies for a sustainable future.
—Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
This gripping series takes viewers into insidious modern-day cults through the unique lens of members who endured unspeakable trauma and the shocking investigations into these oppressive groups.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Dominic Frey is a member of the oppressive class and everything Silas should despise — but now their mutual discretion is all that’s keeping them from punishment for their crimes of passion.
—Olivia Waite, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
When navigating oppressive systems, the Maroons offer strategies for a sustainable future.
—Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
This gripping series takes viewers into insidious modern-day cults through the unique lens of members who endured unspeakable trauma and the shocking investigations into these oppressive groups.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Dominic Frey is a member of the oppressive class and everything Silas should despise — but now their mutual discretion is all that’s keeping them from punishment for their crimes of passion.
—Olivia Waite, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressive
Adjective
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The Patriots are paying for potential more than immediate production, so the F grade feels harsh.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
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Each of our pieces is a symbol of resilience, proving that creativity can thrive even under the harshest circumstances.—
Gemma A. Williams,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The avalanche at Tunnel Creek in the Cascade Mountains involved a large group of ski industry professionals and resulted in three brutal fatalities.—
Ashley Thess,
Outdoor Life,
14 Mar. 2025
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Conquest is a much more brutal Viltrumite than Nolan.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The New York Fed survey of consumer expectations showed respondents believe tougher economic conditions are ahead.—
Courtenay Brown,
Axios,
11 Mar. 2025
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Secret Service would likely have something to say about that, though the Cybertruck does have a pretty tough exterior.—
Emily Forlini,
PCMAG,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Last year, Love penned a searing op-ed in The Guardian about the lack of female artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2025
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If Demi Moore wasn’t going to win for her career-reviving performance in the horror satire The Substance, then surely British voters would reward Marianne Jean-Baptiste for her searing depiction of depression in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths.—
Sarah Crompton,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Konstantopoulos has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a chronic condition that affects connective tissues and makes injuries more frequent and severe.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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But her origin story is compelling: Braverman was born in Ukraine, just weeks before the Chernobyl nuclear event, and was in severe respiratory distress soon after birth.—
John Werner,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As mere surrogates, the Trump-DeSantis fight to outdo each other through mean and cruel policies will go on.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
6 Mar. 2025
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Immigration advocates call the crackdown cruel and wrongheaded and warn that many Latino U.S. citizens will likely suffer violations of their civil rights and possibly even get mistakenly deported.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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Below are the stocks that came up in our search: While shares of Tesla , which has an RSI of around 22, advanced more than 5% midday Tuesday, on track to snap a three-day losing streak, the stock has had a rough time in recent weeks.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
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Hard water can also cause clothes to feel rough and scratchy against your skin.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oppressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressive. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
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