oppressive
Oppressive (adjective) means Unjust and harsh; ruling or treating people cruelly. Example: “Citizens fled the oppressive government in search of asylum.”
How to use oppressive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCrushing or overbearing — used for unjust rule, heavy heat, or any weight that's hard to bear.
Word forms
more oppressive comparative, most oppressive superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Citizens fled the _____ government in search of asylum.
Etymology
Built from oppress plus the adjective ending -ive, ultimately from Latin opprimere, "to press down or crush."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for oppressive
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include oppressive: