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oppressivo

oppressive

adjective op-pres-SEE-voh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Conditions

Origin: From Latin oppressivus, from opprimere (to press down, to oppress).

Also means

stifling, burdensome

Usage Note

Oppressivo describes both a physical sensation — caldo oppressivo ('oppressive heat', 'stifling heat') — and a political or social condition: un regime oppressivo ('an oppressive regime'). It is a false friend caution: Italian oppressivo maps closely to English 'oppressive'. Agrees in gender: oppressiva (f), oppressivi (m pl).

Examples

"Il caldo estivo era oppressivo."

Natural Translation

The summer heat was oppressive.

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