adjective
Uncommon
oppressive
uh-PREHS-ihv
Oppressive (adjective) means Unjust and harsh; ruling or treating people cruelly. Example: “Citizens fled the oppressive government in search of asylum.”
adjective
1
Unjust and harsh; ruling or treating people cruelly.
"Citizens fled the oppressive government in search of asylum."
2
Hard to bear; heavy, intense, or overwhelming, especially heat or humidity.
"The oppressive summer heat made it hard to sleep."
"An oppressive silence settled over the room after the announcement."
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.
Common pairings
oppressive heat
oppressive regime
oppressive atmosphere
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more oppressive
- Superlative
- most oppressive
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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
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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.
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