oppress

verb

op·​press ə-ˈpres 

oppressed; oppressing; oppresses

transitive verb

1

a

: to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority

The country has long been oppressed by a ruthless dictator.

oppressed minorities

b

archaic : suppress

2

: to burden spiritually or mentally : weigh heavily upon

oppressed by a sense of failure

oppress by intolerable guilt

oppressor

ə-ˈpre-sər 

noun

Synonyms

• bum (out)
• burden
• dash
• deject
• depress
• get down
• sadden
• weigh down

Choose the Right Synonym for oppress

wrong, oppress, persecute, aggrieve mean to injure unjustly or outrageously.

wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.

a penal system that had wronged him

oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.

a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.

a child persecuted by constant criticism

aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.

a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

Examples of oppress in a Sentence

The country has long been oppressed by a ruthless dictator.

They condemned attempts by the government to oppress its citizens.

people who have traditionally been oppressed by society

Recent Examples on the Web

In this sense, the Mormon leader purports to advance both the formal law of the land on Utah Territory and more elemental notions of justice — even while simultaneously playing the role of both oppressor and oppressed. —Michael M. Rosen, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Feb. 2025

Many members of the sect contend that they, too, were oppressed under the dictatorship, just like other Syrians. —Raja Abdulrahim, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024

The wizard is outed as a fraud (both Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible play these scenes with the pitch-perfect precision that comes only with their experience) who is trying to use Elphaba’s powers to oppress animals (who are walking, talking, law-abiding citizens in Oz). —Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 22 Nov. 2024

Today's progressive movement is less about labor or rights and more focused on identity, equity, and a sense of responsibility to the global oppressed. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oppressen "to put pressure on, crush, burden, overwhelm," borrowed from Anglo-French oppresser, borrowed from Medieval Latin oppressāre, frequentative derivative from Latin oppressus, past participle of opprimere "to press on, stifle, overpower," from ob- ob- + premere "to press" — more at press entry 2

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

oppress

verb

op·​press ə-ˈpres 

1

: to control or rule in a harsh or cruel way

a country oppressed by a dictator

2

: to cause to feel burdened in spirit

oppressed by grief

oppressor

-ˈpres-ər 

noun