Search Result for "oppressive": 
Wordnet 3.0

ADJECTIVE (2)

1. weighing heavily on the senses or spirit;
- Example: "the atmosphere was oppressive"
- Example: "oppressive sorrows"

2. marked by unjust severity or arbitrary behavior;
- Example: "the oppressive government"
- Example: "oppressive laws"
- Example: "a tyrannical parent"
- Example: "tyrannous disregard of human rights"
[syn: oppressive, tyrannical, tyrannous]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

oppressive
    adj 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" [syn:
       oppressive, tyrannical, tyrannous]