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
More than 60 years ago, my parents fled Cuba for the United States, seeking freedom from an oppressive regime that dictated what businesses produced and how products were priced.
—Carlos Cubelo, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2025
The film follows a 40-year-old widowed nurse named Mahnaz, who is struggling with a rebellious son and other complications in a heavily oppressive patriarchal context.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 22 May 2025
Rubio’s comments addressed Trump’s pledge to lift sanctions on Syria’s new transitional government, which is led by a former militant chief who led the overthrow of the country’s longtime oppressive leader, Bashar Assad, late last year.
—Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Through her podcast From Now On, Lisa uplifts survivors and challenges oppressive systems.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressive
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Carlos Cubelo, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2025
The film follows a 40-year-old widowed nurse named Mahnaz, who is struggling with a rebellious son and other complications in a heavily oppressive patriarchal context.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 22 May 2025
Rubio’s comments addressed Trump’s pledge to lift sanctions on Syria’s new transitional government, which is led by a former militant chief who led the overthrow of the country’s longtime oppressive leader, Bashar Assad, late last year.
—Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Through her podcast From Now On, Lisa uplifts survivors and challenges oppressive systems.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 May 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 8 Jun. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share