oppressive
4 antonyms for oppressive — opposites grouped by meaning.
Adjective — Unjust and harsh; ruling or treating people cruelly.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Unjust and harsh; ruling or treating people cruelly.
“Citizens fled the oppressive government in search of asylum.”
Opposites
2. adjective
Hard to bear; heavy, intense, or overwhelming, especially heat or humidity.
“The oppressive summer heat made it hard to sleep.”
Opposites
Antonyms
How to use oppressive
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
oppressive heat
oppressive regime
oppressive atmosphere
Etymology
Built from oppress plus the adjective ending -ive, ultimately from Latin opprimere, "to press down or crush."
Full origin of oppressive →Frequently asked questions
What does “oppressive” mean?
The word “oppressive” means unjust and harsh; ruling or treating people cruelly. In plain terms, crushing or overbearing — used for unjust rule, heavy heat, or any weight that's hard to bear.
How do you pronounce “oppressive”?
“Oppressive” is pronounced uh-PREHS-ihv (/əˈpɹɛs.ɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “oppressive” in a sentence?
Here is “oppressive” used in a sentence: “Citizens fled the oppressive government in search of asylum.”
What is another word for “oppressive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “oppressive” include harsh.
What part of speech is “oppressive”?
“Oppressive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “oppressive” come from?
The word “oppressive” comes from Latin. Built from oppress plus the adjective ending -ive, ultimately from Latin opprimere, "to press down or crush.".
Is “oppressive” a common word?
“Oppressive” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “oppressive” have?
“Oppressive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unjust and harsh; ruling or treating people cruelly.
