How to pronounce oppressive
Say it like uh-PRES-iv. Oppressive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PRES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oppressive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- PRES
- iv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oppressive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PRESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of oppressive
American and British speakers say oppressive in essentially the same way: /əˈprɛsɪv/ in the US and /əˈprɛsɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-PRES-iv.
What does oppressive mean?
- Burdensome or difficult to bear.“The oppressive tax laws made it difficult to start a small company.”
- Tyrannical or exercising unjust power.“oppressive smell”
- Weighing heavily on the spirit; being quite intense, excessive or overwhelming.“Will the oppressive heat of summer never end?”
Where does oppressive come from?
From oppress + -ive.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- grinding
- authoritarian
- autocratic
- bossy
- coercive
Words that rhyme with oppressive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oppressive.
Questions about saying oppressive
How do you pronounce oppressive?
Say uh-PRES-iv. The American pronunciation is /əˈprɛsɪv/. In British English it is /əˈprɛsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oppressive?
Oppressive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PRES). Broken into parts: uh · PRES · iv.
Do Americans and Brits say oppressive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈprɛsɪv/ and the British form is /əˈprɛsɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.