Oppressive

Pronunciation: /əˈprɛsɪv/

Definitions of oppressive

adjective giving a sense of being weighed down or heavily burdened; causing discomfort or distress

Example Sentences

A1 The hot weather felt oppressive.

A2 She found the strict rules at school oppressive.

B1 The government's oppressive policies led to protests.

B2 Living under an oppressive regime can be challenging.

C1 The oppressive atmosphere in the workplace made employees unhappy.

C2 The oppressive laws restricted freedom of speech.

Examples of oppressive in a Sentence

formal The government implemented oppressive policies that restricted freedom of speech.

informal The boss's micromanaging behavior felt really oppressive to the employees.

slang The school's dress code is so oppressive, it's like they want us to wear uniforms.

figurative The dark clouds looming overhead felt oppressive, like a weight on my chest.

Grammatical Forms of oppressive

• past tense: oppressed
• plural: oppressives
• comparative: more oppressive
• superlative: most oppressive
• present tense: oppresses
• future tense: will oppress
• perfect tense: has oppressed
• continuous tense: is oppressing
• singular: oppressive
• positive degree: oppressive
• infinitive: to oppress
• gerund: oppressing
• participle: oppressed

Origin and Evolution of oppressive

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'oppressive' originated from the Latin word 'oppressivus', which is derived from the verb 'opprimere' meaning to press down or crush.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'oppressive' has retained its original meaning of causing hardship or distress through unjust exercise of authority. However, its usage has expanded to encompass various forms of domination and control, not just physical oppression.