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
The authoritarian regime has brutally oppressed the people of Iran for generations.
—
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
The Iranian regime has oppressed, humiliated, and murdered its people.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Often employing caricature, distortion and symbolism to communicate anxiety and resistance, his works are personal and political, offering a critique of the systems that oppress people of color.
—Evan Nicole Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
She was oppressed by his big shadow.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppress
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
The Iranian regime has oppressed, humiliated, and murdered its people.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Often employing caricature, distortion and symbolism to communicate anxiety and resistance, his works are personal and political, offering a critique of the systems that oppress people of color.
—Evan Nicole Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
She was oppressed by his big shadow.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress
Verb
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Simply depress the button at the base of the arm, remove it and place it in the top rack of your dishwasher.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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And its power overwhelms that kind of analogy.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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When used in large numbers, such drones could, in theory, overwhelm air defenses.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Democratic gubernatorial candidates acknowledged state regulations on business and the environment have burdened farmers and pledged to roll back restrictive policies affecting agriculture.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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Writing for the Court, Gorsuch rejected Jackson’s core argument that Colorado’s law merely regulates professional conduct and only incidentally burdens speech.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The mother of a 7-month-old girl killed by a stray bullet while sitting in her stroller in Brooklyn is devastated by Wednesday's horrific tragedy.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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On May 18, 1980, the north slope of Mount Saint Helens, a volcanic peak in the Cascades Range, was blasted away in an eruption that killed 57 people and devastated an area of approximately 200 square miles.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Court records show that Gabriel was tortured by starvation, shot by BB guns, and forced to eat cat litter, cat feces and his own vomit.—
Rick Montanez,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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His Venice entry triggered multiple walkouts in Sonoma, though, especially during a scene featuring the always solid Oscar Isaac getting tortured.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bane overcame a slow start by making six of his first seven attempts at the free-throw line to reach 10 points after two quarters.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the third period, including Rielly's snap shot from the high slot that beat Anaheim goalie Ville Husso stick-side to give Toronto a 4-3 lead with three minutes left in regulation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme, who sometimes served as a mentor and listening board for Metayer Bowen, was equally saddened by the tragedy.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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His many friends and supporters were saddened by the allegations, but in most cases the friendships persevered.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What troubles me most about the manosphere documentary is not the influencers themselves.—
Steven Burg,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
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Outlook isn’t the only thing that troubled the four astronauts.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppress. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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