Definition of Oppressive

1. Adjective. Weighing heavily on the senses or spirit. "Oppressive sorrows"

Similar to: Heavy
Derivative terms: Oppressiveness

2. Adjective. Marked by unjust severity or arbitrary behavior. "Tyrannous disregard of human rights"
Exact synonyms: Tyrannical, Tyrannous
Similar to: Domineering
Derivative terms: Oppress, Oppress, Oppressiveness, Tyranny, Tyrant, Tyrant

Definition of Oppressive

1. a. Unreasonably burdensome; unjustly severe, rigorous, or harsh; as, oppressive taxes; oppressive exactions of service; an oppressive game law.

Definition of Oppressive

1. Adjective. Burdensome or difficult to bear. ¹

2. Adjective. Tyrannical or exercising unjust power. ¹

3. Adjective. Weighing heavily on the spirit; intense, or overwhelming ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Oppressive

1. [adj]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Oppressive

oppositipetalous
oppositisepalous
oppositive
oppositive case
opposum
opposure
oppress
oppressed
oppresses
oppressest
oppresseth
oppressing
oppressingly
oppression
oppressions
oppressive (current term)
oppressively
oppressiveness
oppressor
oppressors
oppressour
oppressure
opprest
opprobries
opprobrious
opprobriously
opprobriousness
opprobrium
opprobriums
opprobry

Literary usage of Oppressive

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Physical Geography of the Sea by Matthew Fontaine Maury (1858)
"Besides being a region of calms and baffling winds, it is a region noted for its rains and clouds, which make it one of the most oppressive and disagreeable ..."

2. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1887)
"... they were at one e delivered from the oppressive laws and arbitrary vexations which they had sustained under the reign of Constantino and of his sons. ..."

3. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1882)
"It would occasion very great delays and oppressive expenses. [318] The settled practice of this court is, that whenever damages are claimed by the ..."

4. Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan by John Lloyd Stephens (1841)
"oppressive Heat.—Shock of an Earthquake.—A stroll through the Town.—A troublesome Muleteer.—A Lawsuit.—Important Negotiations. ..."

5. The Poet at the Breakfast-table: He Talks with His Fellow-boarders and the by Oliver Wendell Holmes (1891)
"There are times when the thought of becoming utterly nothing to the world we knew so well and loved so much is painful and oppressive; we gasp as if in a ..."

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