oppressive Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
    • the atmosphere was oppressive
    • oppressive sorrows
  2. adjective satellite marked by unjust severity or arbitrary behavior
    tyrannous; tyrannical.
    • the oppressive government
    • oppressive laws
    • a tyrannical parent
    • tyrannous disregard of human rights

WordNet

Op*press"ive adjective
Etymology
Cf. F. oppressif.
Definitions
  1. Unreasonably burdensome; unjustly severe, rigorous, or harsh; as, oppressive taxes; oppressive exactions of service; an oppressive game law. Macaulay.
  2. Using oppression; tyrannical; as, oppressive authority or commands.
  3. Heavy; overpowering; hard to be borne; as, oppressive grief or woe.
    To ease the soul of one oppressive weight. Pope.
    -- Op*press"ive*ly, adv. -- Op*press"ive*ness, n.

Webster 1913