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op·pres·sive
 oppressive
- pronunciation:
pre
sihv
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
harsh, brutal, or cruel.
The heartless king was an oppressive ruler.
- synonyms:
- brutal, cruel, despotic, draconian, harsh, ironhanded, severe, tyrannical
- antonyms:
- humane
- similar words:
- hard, hardhearted, merciless, pitiless, ruthless
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| definition 2: |
extremely unpleasant; burdensome; depressing.
The weather has been oppressive this winter.
- synonyms:
- intolerable, miserable, unbearable
- similar words:
- burdensome, depressing, distressing, heavy, nasty, onerous, stifling, suffocating, trying, uncomfortable, unpleasant
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| related words: |
cumbersome, inhuman, painful, sore, sultry |
| derivations: |
oppressively (adv.), oppressiveness (n.) |
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