repressivere‧pres‧sive /rɪˈpresɪv/ adjective 
Examples
a repressive regime repressive measures2not allowing the expression of feelings or desires, especially sexual ones—repressively adverb—repressiveness noun [uncountable]
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
word sets- The country has repressive laws and jails full of political prisoners.
- The customs were exceedingly repressive toward women.
- Both the Sandinistas and Frelimo came to power after a liberation struggle against highly repressive regimes.
- It is feared that this may prove the beginning of further repressive measures.
- It thereby assists the maintenance of domestic capitalist interests and elaborates its repressive apparatuses.
- Just as thirty years before, here again were feminist divisions over using the repressive state to enforce women's demands.
- The guaranteed absence of external intervention left the regime a free hand to continue its repressive domestic policies.
- This was a predominantly Protestant force which soon came to be regarded as repressive and bigoted by the Catholic minority.
- When we live with war, under a repressive regime we can not close our eyes any more.
WORD SETS► Government
Collocationsabsolutism, nounadministration, nounagency, nounagent, nounagent provocateur, nounalderman, nounally, nounassembly, nounautarchy, nounautocracy, nounautocrat, nounautonomous, adjectiveautonomy, nounban, nounbaron, nounbig government, nounbilateral, adjectivebody politic, nounbudget, nounbureau, nounbureaucracy, nouncabinet, nouncaliphate, nouncanton, nouncanvass, verbcapital, nouncapitalist, nounCapitol Hill, nounCBE, nouncede, verbcentral, adjectivecentral government, nouncentralism, nouncentralize, verbchancellery, nounchancery, nouncharter, nouncharter, verbchief, nounCIA, the, city hall, nouncity-state, nounclient state, nounCo., coalition, nouncold war, nouncolonial, adjectivecolonial, nouncolonialism, nouncolonize, verbcolony, nouncommissioner, nouncommune, nounconsort, nounconstitution, nounconstitutional, adjectiveconstitutionality, nounconvention, nouncoronation, nouncount, nouncounterintelligence, nouncountess, nouncounty, nouncounty council, noundecolonize, verbdemocracy, noundemocratic, adjectivedependency, noundespotism, noundétente, noundethrone, verbdevolution, noundictatorial, adjectivedictatorship, noundiplomacy, noundiplomatic immunity, noundirective, noundisinformation, noundispatch, noundispensation, noundissent, verbdistrict council, noundocumentation, nounDOD, dominion, nounDowning Street, noundynasty, nounearl, nounearldom, nounempire, nounEuro, adjectiveEurope, nounexecutive, nounexecutive privilege, nounfall, verbfall, nounfederalism, nounfeudal, adjectivefeudalism, nounfeudalistic, adjectivegazette, nounhead of state, nounhigh commission, nounimperial, adjectiveindependence, nounindependent, adjectiveinfrastructure, nouninstigate, verbinsurgent, nouninsurrection, nounintelligence, nouninternal, adjectivejunket, nounjunta, nounkingdom, nounkingship, nounkitchen cabinet, nounland office, nounland registry, nounlegation, nounlegislature, nounlicensed, adjectivelocal authority, nounlocal government, nounmaharajah, nounmaharani, nounmandate, nounmandated, adjectivemartial law, nounMBE, nounmeasure, nounmidterm, nounministry, nounminority government, nounmisrule, nounmonarchy, nounmonolith, nounmonolithic, adjectivemoratorium, nounmouthpiece, nounmove, verbmover, nounmunicipal, adjectivemunicipality, nounNASA, nounnational, adjectivenational debt, nounNational Health Service, the, nationalize, verbnational monument, nounnation state, nounNATO, nounneocolonialism, nounneutral, adjectiveneutral, nounneutralize, verbnon-aligned, adjectivenon-intervention, nounnon-proliferation, noun-ocracy, suffix-ocrat, suffixofficiate, verboligarchy, nounoperational, adjectiveoperative, nounoverthrow, verboverthrow, nounoverturn, verbpacify, verbpact, nounpalatinate, nounpardon, nounparish, nounpartition, nounpass, verbpeer, nounpeer, verbpeerage, nounpeeress, nounpermit, nounplenary, adjectiveplutocracy, nounpolice state, nounpolitburo, nounpolitical science, nounpolity, nounpork, nounpork barrel, nounportfolio, nounpossession, nounprecinct, nounprefecture, nounpremiership, nounpresidium, nounprotectorate, nounpublic, adjectivepublic service, nounquota, nounR, ratify, verbrealm, nounrecall, nounrecognition, nounrecognize, verbregency, nounregent, nounregime, nounregister, nounregulation, nounrelease, nounrepeal, verbrepresentative, nounrepressive, adjectiverepublic, nounrepublican, adjectiverescind, verbreunify, verbrevoke, verbrising, nounroyalist, nounruling, adjectivesanction, nounseat, nounsecret agent, nounsecurity service, nounself-governing, adjectiveself-rule, nounsheikh, nounshire, nounsocial democracy, nounsocialist, adjectivesocial service, nounsovereign, adjectivesovereignty, nounspin doctor, nounstaff, nounstate, nounstatehood, nounStatehouse, nounstate line, nounstate of emergency, nounstatewide, adjectivesubject, adjectivesubject, verbsultanate, nounsummit, nounsuperpower, nounsuppress, verbsupranational, adjectivesurgery, nounsuzerainty, nountechnocracy, nounterritory, nounthrone, nountopple, verbtotalitarian, adjectivetown planning, nountownship, nountransit visa, nountreaty, nountribalism, nountripartite, adjectivetrusteeship, nountsarism, nountyrant, nountzarism, noununconstitutional, adjectiveunification, noununify, verbunilateral, adjectiveunion, nounUnion Jack, nounvassal, nounVIP, nounviscount, nounviscountess, nounwelfare state, nounWhitehall, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► an oppressive/repressive regime
1a repressive government or law controls people in a cruel and severe way SYN oppressive: (=powerful, cruel, and unfair)· That country was held fast in the grip of an oppressive regime.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► more· A second section then analyses the corresponding drift towards a more repressive style of policing in this country.· After six years in power, Park was becoming more repressive and had his sights set on long-term rule.· Labour implemented a more repressive policy on the ground than Likud while pretending to greater moderation in the international domain.· He became increasingly more repressive, despite his pronouncements about creating a new society, free of corruption and graft.· However, when a country reverts to more repressive politics, government policies usually demobilize many of the new foot soldiers.
NOUN► measure· He immediately began harsh repressive measures and many Madeirans were deported to the Azores and some to the Cape Verde.· The repressive measures adopted in the South after the Emancipation Proclamation were rapidly dissipated.· When faced with locally repressive measures, some Huaraz women have threatened to call a marketers' strike.· Its rejection led to a series of industrial strikes, demonstrations, and repressive measures by the Government.· It is feared that this may prove the beginning of further repressive measures.· By condemning the disorderly symptoms of social conflict and neglecting its causes, the media implicitly endorse further repressive measures.
► regime· When we live with war, under a repressive regime we can not close our eyes any more.· Both the Sandinistas and Frelimo came to power after a liberation struggle against highly repressive regimes.· In the face of repressive regimes, the peasantry have shown a capacity and willingness to organise and mobilise.· There is a new insistence on the illegitimacy of debts incurred by military dictatorships and other repressive regimes.
a repressive regime repressive measures2not allowing the expression of feelings or desires, especially sexual ones—repressively adverb—repressiveness noun [uncountable]