oppressive

Adjective
Synonyms: tyrannicaltyrannous

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

  1. weighing heavily on the senses or spirit“the atmosphere was oppressive”“oppressive sorrows”
  2. marked by unjust severity or arbitrary behavior“the oppressive government”“oppressive laws”“a tyrannical parent”“tyrannous disregard of human rights”Synonyms: tyrannicaltyrannous
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Oppressive \Op*press"ive\, a. [Cf. F. oppressif.]

1.Unreasonably burdensome; unjustly severe, rigorous, or harsh; as, oppressive taxes; oppressive exactions of service; an oppressive game law. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

2.Using oppression; tyrannical; as, oppressive authority or commands. [1913 Webster]

3.Heavy; overpowering; hard to be borne; creating a sense of heavy burden; as, oppressive grief or woe; oppressive heat or humidity; an oppressive workload. [1913 Webster +PJC]

To ease the soul of one oppressive weight. --Pope. [1913 Webster] -- Op*press"ive*ly, adv. -- Op*press"ive*ness, n. [1913 Webster]
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