oppressive
uh-PRES-iv
/əˈpres.ɪv/
Inflicting harsh and authoritarian treatment on a people or group.
Describes laws, regimes, or environments that weigh heavily on people's freedom or emotional well-being.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'oppressus', past participle of 'opprimere' (to press against, smother, or crush). The physical action of pressing down evolved into describing political and social subjection.
Word relationships
- burdensome: Burdensome implies heavy responsibility, while oppressive implies active harshness and control.
- tyrannical: Tyrannical carries a stronger connotation of explicit political cruel dictatorship.
- liberating: Granting freedom and removing restrictions.
Commonly confused with
- expressive: Expressive means showing thoughts or feelings; oppressive means pushing down freedoms.
Word family
- oppress (verb): Keep someone in subservience and hardship.
- oppression (noun): Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.
Collocations
- oppressive regime
- oppressive laws
- oppressive heat
- oppressive atmosphere
Example sentences
- "Citizens endured oppressive laws that prohibited public assembly and restricted speech." Human Rights Report
Memory hook
OPPRESSIVE = PRESSING down on people. Heavy, crushing weight on freedom.
When not to use
Do not use to describe light inconveniences or minor restrictions.
Fun facts
- The word is also commonly used in meteorology to describe uncomfortably hot and humid weather.
Explore more words
overbearing, authoritarian, relentless, subjugation, dictate, punitive
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