1
as in torturing
to make sad
this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overcoming
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 oppressing
In Russia, Cuba, Iran, Belarus, and Uganda, dictatorships have carried on for decades—oppressing and killing their people, attacking their neighbors, and destabilizing their regions.
—
Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Now, the Franciscan missionaries oppressing the Native Americans in the painting had arrows piercing their heads and bodies.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Now, the Franciscan missionaries oppressing the Native Americans in the painting had arrows piercing their heads and bodies.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressing
Verb
-
Two recent cases of parents in Round Lake Beach and Fox Lake charged with several counts each of torturing and abusing their children — in one case allegedly causing a son’s death — point to the need for some sort of parental licensing.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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The Ayatollah ruled as a brutal dictator, killing and torturing his own people, imposing harsh restrictions on basic freedoms, and put the lives of our troops and global allies constantly at risk.—
Derek Tran,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Applicants must write an essay that reflects a background of overcoming adversity, such as growing up in a low-income setting or losing a parent.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Waring and Woodland are both in the midst of overcoming big obstacles of a different nature.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Many companies tie these adjustments to surging oil prices, with the blockage of the key Strait of Hormuz passageway depressing supply.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
-
But that message carries a weird, even depressing undertone.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bottled at 93 proof, the higher alcohol content helps amplify the complexity without overwhelming the balance.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Start by exploring a documentary, mapping a trip, or signing up for a course that stretches your thinking without overwhelming your schedule.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There is room for reasonable discussion about how to implement verification without burdening eligible voters.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
-
And year after year, NYU has routinely been ranked with the dubious distinction of burdening its graduates with more debt than any other university in the United States.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Our team found that a hospital cyberattack cut the odds of surviving a cardiac arrest without devastating brain damage by nearly 90% at nearby hospitals, not just the one that was attacked.—
Jeffrey Tully,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
But the war now is devastating it.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But besides defiant behavior or anger issues, there are other behaviors that indicate that something deeper is troubling your teen.—
Staff Author,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Scientists may have solved a cosmic mystery that has been troubling them since the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) began observations back in 2022.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If the Red Sea remains closed, if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, then the global economy very quickly, within weeks, goes into recession and brings crushing stagflation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, the Dodgers’ clutch middle-of-the-order threat was able to toy with the Arizona Diamondbacks, crushing a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning to power a 3-2 victory and a 3-0 start to the season.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressing. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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