repressive
repressive Lexical Profile
repressive Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Inhibiting or restraining the personal freedom, political expression, or natural development of individuals or groups, especially through harsh laws or authoritarian control.
"Many journalists and writers fled the country to escape the government's increasingly repressive censorship laws."
Serving or tending to hold back, subdue, or keep emotions, desires, or thoughts from conscious awareness or outward expression.
"The therapist explained how growing up in an emotionally repressive household made it difficult for him to express vulnerability."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Repressive' and 'oppressive' overlap in political contexts, but 'repressive' specifically emphasizes holding back, restraining, or silencing expression, emotions, or dissent, whereas 'oppressive' emphasizes crushing people under harsh, unjust burdens or cruelty.
• Rhymes for repressive
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century from Middle French 'répressif', derived from Latin 'repressus', the past participle of 'reprimere' ('to hold back, check, or curb'), from 're-' ('back') and 'premere' ('to press').