oppressive
oppressive Lexical Profile
oppressive Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Inflicting harsh, unjust, or authoritarian treatment; exercising power in a cruel or burdensome manner.
"Many citizens chose to emigrate to escape the oppressive laws enacted by the regime."
Weighing heavily on the mind or spirits; causing severe mental distress, anxiety, or gloom.
"An oppressive silence fell over the auditorium as everyone waited for the panel's final decision."
Extremely hot, humid, and stagnant, making breathing or physical exertion uncomfortable (especially of weather or air).
"We stayed indoors during the afternoon to avoid the oppressive heat of late July."
• Rhymes for oppressive
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century from Middle French oppressif, derived from Medieval Latin oppressivus, from Latin oppressus, the past participle of opprimere ('to press against, crush, or stifle').