1
as in depresses
to make sad
this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overwhelms
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
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.
Recent Examples of oppresses
It is governed by a brutal regime that oppresses its people and is an enemy to the United States.
—
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
His policies have been instrumental in dismantling the criminal enterprise that oppresses the Venezuelan people.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
White supremacy oppresses all of humanity.
—Monifa Dayo, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Oct. 2020
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
His policies have been instrumental in dismantling the criminal enterprise that oppresses the Venezuelan people.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
White supremacy oppresses all of humanity.
—Monifa Dayo, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppresses
Verb
-
Modified in this way, the gun will continue firing as long as the shooter depresses the trigger and the gun has ammunition.—
Simon Akam,
Vanity Fair,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Usually a warm El Nino spikes temperatures and its cool La Nina flip side depresses temperatures.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Disorientation isn’t an external force that overwhelms a person like a wave.—
Jeff Wise,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Driven by the Gaza conflict and a deepening generational divide, Democratic sympathy for Palestinians now overwhelms support for Israel, threatening a historic partisan realignment.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The retrospection tortures her.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Later, in one of the movie's most satisfying scenes, Millie locks Andrew in the attic and tortures him by loudly smashing each plate.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Kyiv residents endure long daily blackouts as Russia devastates the power system, leaving tower block dwellers freezing in apartments with no heat or light.—
Derek Gatopoulos,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Exacerbating the problem, unpredictable rainfall cycling between drought and floods further devastates the region.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
However, that really saddens me now.—
Abigail Wise,
Outside,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Being stuck in the middle is what saddens the Others.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
21 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Leo consistently overcomes challenges such as low light, rapid movement, and split second moments to produce sharp, compelling images.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
-
LithSonic overcomes this challenge by using supersonic flow, similar to the conditions inside a rocket engine, to achieve ultra-rapid cooling through a process known as shock quenching.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Understanding this cold-sensing protein could one day lead to better therapies for cold hypersensitivity that often troubles people undergoing certain types of cancer chemotherapies.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In my experience, challenging conventions and presenting a more candid depiction of what troubles our fighting men and women — and their folks back home — brings you more credibility and appreciation than trying to spray perfume on the horrors of the battlefield.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, some lawmakers and advocates say the proposal disproportionately burdens the electricity sector at a moment when utility bills are soaring.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Connecticut’s system of taxation unjustly burdens its poorest citizens.—
Joseph Gerics,
Hartford Courant,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppresses. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
