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- Dictionaryoppressive/əˈprɛsɪv/
adjective
- 1. inflicting harsh and authoritarian treatment: "an oppressive dictatorship" Similar Opposite
- 2. (of weather) close and sultry: "the day was sunless and oppressive" Similar Opposite
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The meaning of OPPRESSIVE is unreasonably burdensome or severe. How to use oppressive in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Oppressive.
OPPRESSIVE definition: 1. cruel and unfair: 2. causing people to feel worried and uncomfortable: 3. If the weather or…. Learn more.
Oppressive definition: burdensome, unjustly harsh, or tyrannical. See examples of OPPRESSIVE used in a sentence.
The adjective oppressive is heavy stuff; it can feel like you can't breathe, like something is choking you: "His oppressive behavior made me feel like I was being smothered." If something is just too intense, and not in a good way, that also can feel oppressive.
If you describe a society, its laws, or customs as oppressive, you think they treat people cruelly and unfairly.
There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective oppressive. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
treating people in a cruel and unfair way and not giving them the same freedom, rights, etc. as other people. oppressive laws. an oppressive regime. The political situation has grown increasingly oppressive. Extra Examples. She was among those who fought the oppressive apartheid system.
1. If you describe a society, its laws, or customs as oppressive, you think they treat people cruelly and unfairly. [...] 2. If you describe the weather or the atmosphere in a room as oppressive, you mean that it is unpleasantly hot and damp. [...] 3. An oppressive situation makes you feel depressed and uncomfortable. [...] More. Grammar Question.
OPPRESSIVE meaning: 1. cruel and unfair: 2. causing people to feel worried and uncomfortable: 3. If the weather or…. Learn more.
adj. 1. Exercising power arbitrarily and often unjustly; tyrannical. 2. Difficult to cope with; causing hardship or depressed spirits: oppressive demands. See Synonyms at burdensome. 3. Hot and humid; sweltering: an oppressive heat wave. op·pres′sive·ly adv. op·pres′sive·ness n. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
