treating people in a cruel and unfair way and not giving them the same freedom, rights, etc. as other people 压迫的；压制的；高压的 oppressive laws 对部分人的压制性法律 an oppressive regime 残暴的政权 The political situation has grown increasingly oppressive. 政治局势变得越来越令人压抑。
Extra ExamplesBlack people continue to bear the brunt of racial violence and oppressive policing. 黑人继续承受着种族暴力和压迫性治安的冲击。 Her views are certainly oppressive to a large number of disabled people. 她的观点对许多残疾人来说无疑是压迫性的。 The refugees were fleeing from oppressive social and political conditions. 难民从压制的社会和政治环境中逃离。
(of the weather 天气 extremely hot and unpleasant and not having enough fresh air 闷热的；令人窒息的 oppressive heat 难熬的酷暑
making you feel unhappy and anxious 令人苦恼的；令人焦虑的 an oppressive relationship 令人苦恼的关系 The silence between them started to grow oppressive. 他们之间的沉默开始变得压抑。
Word Originlate 16th cent.: from medieval Latin oppressivus, from oppress- ‘pressed against’, from the verb opprimere.