Synonyms of oppress

oppress

verb

ə-ˈpres 

1

as in to depress

to make sad

this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• depress
• burden
• torture
• sadden
• trouble
• weigh down
• worry
• deject
• bother
• bum (out)
• get down
• afflict
• concern
• distress
• disturb
• torment
• discourage
• ail
• unsettle
• upset
• dishearten
• demoralize
• dash
• unnerve
• perturb
• daunt
• dispirit
• discomfort
• agitate
• undo
• exercise
• dismay
• unhinge
• discompose
• disquiet
• freak (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lighten
• rejoice
• brighten
• assure
• stimulate
• gladden
• enliven
• invigorate
• animate
• inspire
• soothe
• reassure
• excite
• cheer (up)
• comfort
• buoy
• encourage
• console
• please
• gratify
• lift
• delight
• elevate
• solace
• uplift
• elate
• hearten
• boost
• exhilarate

2

as in to overwhelm

to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress

a film about a man who is haunted and oppressed by the secrets of his past

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overwhelm
• devastate
• overcome
• crush
• overpower
• disturb
• grind (down)
• prostrate
• swamp
• floor
• overmaster
• drown
• whelm
• snow under
• defeat
• rock
• upset
• shatter
• distress
• refute
• demoralize
• sink
• throw
• confute
• stagger
• unnerve
• unman
• deluge
• break

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb oppress differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of oppress are aggrieve, persecute, and wrong. While all these words mean "to injure unjustly or outrageously," oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.

a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

When could aggrieve be used to replace oppress?

In some situations, the words aggrieve and oppress are roughly equivalent. However, aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.

a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

When might persecute be a better fit than oppress?

Although the words persecute and oppress have much in common, persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.

a child persecuted by constant criticism

When is it sensible to use wrong instead of oppress?

While the synonyms wrong and oppress are close in meaning, wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.

a penal system that had wronged him

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of oppress

Ava Gardner was a mid-century bombshell as famous for her relationships with the likes of Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra as for her films, and by the late 1980s, when the play is set, her own star image seems to oppress her. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025

This diabolical, maximalist group oppresses Gazans and its existence ensures the Palestinians will not have a state. —Zoltan Istvan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025

On Monday, extreme heat will oppress much of the Central and Eastern U.S., with the most dangerous combination of high temperatures and humidity continuing through Wednesday, according to the NWS forecast. —Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025

Doing so was, for the Amin regime, a way of claiming a morally essential role: liberator of Africa’s hitherto oppressed people. —Derek R. Peterson, The Conversation, 18 July 2025