as in harsh
difficult to endure
an oppressive regime that rules through terror
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Recent Examples of oppressive
Enoch confronts the celestial hosts, all wearing capes of swastika red under an oppressive horizon of jutting lightning and glaring orange mountains.
—
Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
The film adapts Xianzhe Xu’s comic series and unfolds during China’s Sui Dynasty under Emperor Yang Guang’s oppressive reign.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
But whether the darkness is oppressive or peaceful, and whether the cold is biting or refreshing, depends, in part, on our mindset.
—Kari Leibowitz, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
The film adapts Xianzhe Xu’s comic series and unfolds during China’s Sui Dynasty under Emperor Yang Guang’s oppressive reign.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
But whether the darkness is oppressive or peaceful, and whether the cold is biting or refreshing, depends, in part, on our mindset.
—Kari Leibowitz, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressive
Adjective
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The energy output is designed to remain stable down to –50 degrees Celsius, supporting reliable operation in some of the harshest climates on Earth, reports InsideEVs.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
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Rapinchuk recommends only using non-toxic products when cleaning your refrigerator and avoiding anything with harsh chemicals, such as bleach and ammonia.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Plus, the unknown impact AI will have on SaaS companies casts a brutal shadow over the sector, and the impact on Workday is significantly visible.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
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In an ecosystem squeezed by the brutal economics of streaming and the continuing struggles of the theatrical model, far too many worthy films go unsold and unseen.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Most importantly, Alvarado relishes in his role as a tough-nosed, point-of-attack defender, an area the Knicks have had trouble despite building a roster with notable defenders across all positions.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
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With a durable and tough rubber sole featuring Vibram's TC5+ technology, each step offers the right amount of flex and resistance for a comfortable hiking experience.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The film, a searing exploration of the country’s flawed prison system, also stars Rivals frontman Alex Hassell and British R&B artist Ray BLK.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
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Nowhere perhaps was the searing heat more evident than at Melbourne Park, where the usual crowds thronging outside the Australian Open tennis tournament dwindled to a ghost town as temperatures soared.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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When his condition escalated to severe pneumonia and sepsis, his heart stopped and the team performed CPR, according to a press release on the case.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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And while there are signs the selling has become overdone, the ructions in the industry caused by artificial intelligence applications are severe enough that pricing a bottom has become a fraught exercise.—
Bernard Goyder,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Said quest forces her to reexamine a revelatory affair with an RAF pilot, and consider how their engagement’s cruel ending set her on the path to a different sort of fulfillment.—
Hayley Maitland,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
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Government should tame the savageness of man and make life in this world more gentle, not crueler.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The basic things — paying the electric bill, going to the doctor, keeping a roof over your head — get more expensive every day, while wages stay rock-bottom and jobs get harder and harder to find.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
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Temperatures in many parts of Texas remained below freezing for days, compounding stress on power plants, natural gas facilities, water systems and homes built for heat, not hard freezes.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For much of 2025, their doldrums felt much worse than the typical rough patch that parties endure after bad election defeats.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Unfortunately, peel-and-stick tiles will not hold up well on rough walls and floors or uneven surfaces.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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