oppressed

adjective

op·​pressed ə-ˈprest How to pronounce oppressed (audio)
: burdened by abuse of power or authority
Group identity in oppressed groups is always very strategic, always a calculation of advantage.Shelby Steele
They are neither oppressed minorities, whose needs have been etched into the nation's consciousness, nor members of the ruling elite, born with their hands on the reins of power.Anthony DeCurtis

Examples of oppressed in a Sentence

setting out on a quixotic quest to right wrongs and to raise up the oppressed peoples of the world
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kid is a member of an oppressed race who was driven to terrorism by the acts of the corporation that destroyed his home planet and vilified his race. Ryan Woodrow, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025 Atwood’s novel allows readers to map June’s hardship onto virtually any era in which women feel oppressed (which, horrifically, is every era in American history). Ben Travers, IndieWire, 8 Apr. 2025 All of a sudden, the Trump administration is positioning itself as a champion of the rights of oppressed minorities abroad yearning for the liberty and security that can be found only within America’s borders. Noah Rothman, National Review, 13 May 2025 For the politically oppressed and those in the global south, cryptocurrency isn't about wealth accumulation. Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oppressed

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oppressed was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oppressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oppressed. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on oppressed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!