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
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
Practitioners and consultants say there are ways to reduce the oppressive volume of emails people get without losing any of the valuable insights.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025
The oppressive heat made finding them that much harder.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 24 Dec. 2025
As beauty director at Dazed, my work aims to challenge the pressures young people feel to conform to oppressive, unrealistic standards, and champion beauty as a joyful tool for self-expression.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
This, however, all becomes background noise as the students face off against the principal over an oppressive, prank-preventing surveillance system.
—Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
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Phil Wahba, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025
The oppressive heat made finding them that much harder.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 24 Dec. 2025
As beauty director at Dazed, my work aims to challenge the pressures young people feel to conform to oppressive, unrealistic standards, and champion beauty as a joyful tool for self-expression.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
This, however, all becomes background noise as the students face off against the principal over an oppressive, prank-preventing surveillance system.
—Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Cite this Entry
“Oppressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oppressive. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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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