1
as in to depress
to make sad
this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oppress
Rather than change the structures that oppress the masses, Benjamin writes, the fascist merely offers the masses a spectacle that gives them the impression that their desires have been met.
—
Constance Grady, Vox, 25 Apr. 2025
His emphasis on God’s love and his demand that the church go out and minister to oppressed and needy people impressed even those who disagreed with him.
—Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
According to the theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez, a contributor to the development of Latin American liberation theology, God does not remain neutral when people are oppressed, so neither should human leaders.
—Annmarie Caño, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2025
Lopakhin and Varya are pushed together throughout the play, but poor Varya, also born working class, will never be able to break through the part of Lopakhin that still idolizes the very nobility that oppressed his family for generations.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppress
Constance Grady, Vox, 25 Apr. 2025
His emphasis on God’s love and his demand that the church go out and minister to oppressed and needy people impressed even those who disagreed with him.
—Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
According to the theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez, a contributor to the development of Latin American liberation theology, God does not remain neutral when people are oppressed, so neither should human leaders.
—Annmarie Caño, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2025
Lopakhin and Varya are pushed together throughout the play, but poor Varya, also born working class, will never be able to break through the part of Lopakhin that still idolizes the very nobility that oppressed his family for generations.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress
Verb
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His wife, Karen Walsh, hovers over him, ready to depress the plunger on a nasal spray applicator.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
30 May 2025
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Burgum said China dumps minerals on the global market to depress prices and undercut U.S. companies.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Cruel and unaccountable events pile up, overwhelming any sense of normality.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
23 May 2025
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The ‘Willy Wonka’ phase A sweet, sugary smell overwhelms the next pod at Goodblend. Gummies in hues of orange, red, yellow, green and blue sit on parchment paper a metal tray.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2025
Verb
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The state should celebrate the homeschooling community, not burden us with regulations.—
Nicholas Tampio,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2025
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The shuttle got burdened by so many crazy requirements.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Sand, breeze blocks, storm shutters—these are materials of survival and exclusion, shaped by the hurricanes that regularly devastate her homeland.—
Nargess Banks,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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The announcement comes after the Trump administration decided that Arkansas won't receive federal funds to repair infrastructure damaged by the March tornadoes that devastated much of north Arkansas, instead leaving it to the state and localities to pay for the clean-up.—
Neal Earley,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Investigators say the group allegedly lured the former business partner back from Italy to access his cryptocurrency account and then kidnapped and tortured him for weeks.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
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Prosecutors said the adults tortured the children, beating them daily, depriving them of food and strangling them to the point of passing out.—
Nathan Solis,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2025
Verb
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Learning how to overcome your own anxiety is the first step to helping your kids do the same, said Robbins.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
30 May 2025
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The odds remain against them — only 16.1% of teams have overcome a 3-2 deficit in NBA playoff history — but the Knicks are coming off their best all-around performance of the series.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2025
Verb
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The Indianapolis Colts and NFL world were saddened on May 21, 2025, when team owner Jim Irsay suddenly passed away in his sleep.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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We are deeply saddened by his passing and join the entire Baylor community during this time of mourning.—
Natasha Dye,
People.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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At a time when the movie industry is troubled in part due to the high cost of special effects, production companies are motivated to stay on top of advancing tech.—
Ryan Faughnder,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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But that’s not the issue here nor what is troubling us.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppress. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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