OPPRESS'IVE, adjective 1. Unreasonably burdensome; unjustly severe; as oppressive taxes; oppressive exactions of service. 2. Tyrannical; as an oppressive government. 3. Heavy; overpowering; overwhelming; as oppressive grief or woe.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI