oppression

noun

op·​pres·​sion ə-ˈpre-shən 

1

a

: unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power

the continuing oppression of the … underclasses

—H. A. Daniels

b

: something that oppresses especially in being an unjust or excessive exercise of power

unfair taxes and other oppressions

2

: a sense of being weighed down in body or mind : depression

an oppression of spirits

Synonyms

• blue devils
• blues
• dejection
• depression
• desolation
• despond
• despondence
• despondency
• disconsolateness
• dispiritedness
• doldrums
• dolefulness
• downheartedness
• dreariness
• dumps
• forlornness
• gloom
• gloominess
• glumness
• heartsickness
• joylessness
• melancholy
• miserableness
• mopes
• mournfulness
• sadness
• sorrowfulness
• unhappiness

Examples of oppression in a Sentence

suffered a lingering oppression in the weeks after his dog died

Recent Examples on the Web

And the systematic torture and oppression from Assad’s regime has had a deep impact on groups like HTS. —Laura Kelly, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2024

The Brownsville, Brooklyn emcee takes Christianity to task, examining its use as a tool of trauma and oppression, especially against Black Americans. —Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024

The result was poverty, misery, and oppression everywhere the Russians did tread, and the whole structure collapsed around 35 years ago, including in Russia itself, with Eastern Europe breaking free and the Soviet Union breaking apart. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024

The Pakistani-Canadian horror movie portrays a mother and daughter having to navigate loss, oppression and vulnerability after the death of the family patriarch. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oppressioun, borrowed from Anglo-French oppression, borrowed from Latin oppressiōn-, oppressiō "action of pressing on or overpowering," from oppres- or *oppret-, variant stem of opprimere "to press on, stifle, overpower" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at oppress

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

oppression

noun

op·​pres·​sion ə-ˈpresh-ən 

1

: cruel or unjust use of authority or power

2

: a feeling of low spirits

Legal Definition

oppression

noun

op·​pres·​sion ə-ˈpre-shən 

: an unjust or excessive exercise of power: as

a

: unlawful, wrongful, or corrupt exercise of authority by a public official acting under color of authority that causes a person harm

b

: dishonest, unfair, wrongful, or burdensome conduct by corporate directors or majority shareholders that entitles minority shareholders to compel involuntary dissolution of the corporation

c

: inequality of bargaining power resulting in one party's lack of ability to negotiate or exercise meaningful choice see also unconscionability

oppressive

ə-ˈpre-siv 

adjective