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Oppressive vs Harmful - What's the difference?

oppressive | harmful | Related terms |

Oppressive is a related term of harmful.


As adjectives the difference between oppressive and harmful

is that oppressive is burdensome or difficult to bear while harmful is of a kind likely to be damaging; injurious.

oppressive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Burdensome or difficult to bear.
    • The oppressive tax laws made it difficult to start a small company.
  • Tyrannical or exercising unjust power.
    • The oppressive land-owners kept a grip on the labourers.
  • Weighing heavily on the spirit; intense, or overwhelming
    • Will the oppressive heat of summer never end?

    Synonyms

    * (weather) humid, close

    harmful

    English

    Alternative forms

    * harmfull (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • of a kind likely to be damaging; injurious
    • Wear a hat to protect your skin from harmful sunlight.

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "harmful" is often applied: effect, consequence, impact, influence, emission, chemical, ingredient, substance, gas, agent, additive, drug, radiation, dust, organism, plant, animal, insect, action, act, behavior, component, content, activity, interference, use.

    Synonyms

    * injurious; see also

    Antonyms

    * beneficial * harmless

    See also

    * harm