oppressivenessn.
/əˈprɛsᵻvnᵻs/, U.S. /əˈprɛsɪvnᵻs/ The quality or fact of being oppressive (in various senses).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > oppression > [noun] > quality
tyrannicalness1649
oppressiveness1701
inquisitorialness1834
tyrannousness1870
1701 J. Somers Jura Populi Anglicani Pref. 5 If upon the account of its Oppressiveness and Illegality, the Voice of the People be everywhere against it.
1811 M. Brunton Self-control I. xiv. 233 He soothed the little impatiences of disease; contrived means to mitigate the oppressiveness of debility.
1863 H. Cox Inst. Eng. Govt. i. x. 240 Records of the oppressiveness of their jurisdiction.
1883 P. Schaff Hist. Christian Church I. vi. 393 The oppressiveness of the Roman yoke increased every year.
1904 J. London Sea-wolf xxxii. 298 I awoke, oppressed by a mysterious sensation... But the mystery and oppressiveness vanished after the first few seconds of waking.
1978 H. Carpenter Inklings (1981) i. 5 Even his brother's companionship could not entirely lighten the oppressiveness of the big house.
1990 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) June 148/1 Bruce savaged the square oppressiveness of Eisenhowerism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1701