as in persecuted
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority
setting out on a quixotic quest to right wrongs and to raise up the oppressed peoples of the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in depressed
to make sad
this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overwhelmed
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 oppressed
Kamila Shamsie
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Serkis keeps the spine of Orwell’s novella, about a group of oppressed farm animals who rebel against their human oppressors, only to repeat the humans’ mistakes, but his version takes a few liberties.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025
Matthew Lee, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Adjective
Taking part in a cultural boycott as an act of solidarity with an oppressed people is politics and saying no, art should be separate from politics is politics.
—Kamila Shamsie
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Serkis keeps the spine of Orwell’s novella, about a group of oppressed farm animals who rebel against their human oppressors, only to repeat the humans’ mistakes, but his version takes a few liberties.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025
Verb
That system brutally enforced racial segregation, which oppressed the Black majority, for 50 years before ending in 1994.
—Matthew Lee, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressed
Verb
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Rather than feeling triumphant at how believable ELIZA was, Weizenbaum was depressed by how gullible people seemed to be.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
26 Aug. 2025
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Her research has shown that lynchings depressed the rate of patent applications by Black Americans, which could have otherwise contributed to innovation and economic growth.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Many companies and industries are clearly overwhelmed by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence—with a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology paper suggesting that 95% of generative AI pilot programs had failed among the dozens of companies the researchers surveyed.—
Giacomo Tognini,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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In my debut novel, Little Movements, the protagonist, Layla, is overwhelmed by these truths when she’s selected to be the choreographer-in-residence at a prestigious arts institution in rural Vermont.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Fixing Broken Economics BNPL as a business has always been troubled.—
Christer Holloman,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Baker highlighted big screen debutant Shih-Yuan Ma, for her performance as the rebellious, troubled older daughter I-Ann.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent Tracy Dorland said she was devastated and angry about the shooting.—
Katie Langford,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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June’s death in May 2003 left the music legend devastated.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Emily Brontë appears in every way indifferent to the need for love and companionship that tortured the lives of her sisters.—
Emily Temple
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
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Several women were tortured and gang raped.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Dong-hwan also begins to suspect that his father, Yeong-gyu — a blind man who overcame his disability to raise him and become a master artisan — may be guarding secrets of his own.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
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Quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 235 yards as the Rebels overcame a 10-0 deficit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The same goes for Germany, which is additionally burdened by an impossible housing situation, impenetrable bureaucracy, and a bad digital infrastructure.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Prince George is not being burdened by tremendous royal expectations, exposure and scrutiny.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Lions are also coming off a disappointing Week 1 performance, having gotten crushed, 27-13, by the Green Bay Packers.—
Noah Camras,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
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Every other actor lends a sense of being crushed by the weight of events as well.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oppressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressed. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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