oppressive

Definitions

Inflicting harsh and authoritarian treatment.

Weighing heavily on the mind or spirits; causing depression or discomfort.

Difficult or uncomfortable to endure, often due to excessive heat or humidity.

Examples

The oppressive heat of the desert made it difficult to walk for more than a few minutes.

The citizens lived under an oppressive regime that strictly limited their freedom of speech.

There was an oppressive silence in the room as everyone waited for the final verdict.

Synonyms

tyrannical repressive authoritarian harsh cruel domineering dictatorial

Antonyms

lenient democratic liberating gentle merciful permissive free