1
as in to depress
to make sad
this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
In Liberia, especially, the Peace Corps volunteers were repulsed by the ways that Americo-Liberians — the descendants of the Black Americans who founded the country — oppressed indigenous ethnic groups.
—
Jonathan Zimmerman, New York Daily News, 16 July 2025
The Sámi people were oppressed for centuries by the powers that ruled and exploited their lands, including bans of the use of their native tongues and efforts to suppress their culture.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 15 July 2025
And the new Syrian leadership is not interested in supporting the Iranian Shiite ideology in the region but rather in empowering the Sunni community, one that was oppressed under the Assad dictatorship.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 9 July 2025
The heat dome that oppressed much of Europe has broken.
—ArsTechnica, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppress
Jonathan Zimmerman, New York Daily News, 16 July 2025
The Sámi people were oppressed for centuries by the powers that ruled and exploited their lands, including bans of the use of their native tongues and efforts to suppress their culture.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 15 July 2025
And the new Syrian leadership is not interested in supporting the Iranian Shiite ideology in the region but rather in empowering the Sunni community, one that was oppressed under the Assad dictatorship.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 9 July 2025
The heat dome that oppressed much of Europe has broken.
—ArsTechnica, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress
Verb
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That had the effect of depressing GDP in January, February and March, because imports are subtracted from the government's measure of economic activity.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
30 July 2025
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Although ships on that route may be set for a decline, the overall increase in ships out at sea are another factor in depressing the rates.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
28 July 2025
Verb
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With no hemming required, each one of these matching sets won’t drag on the floor or overwhelm your small frame.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 July 2025
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In greater numbers than ever, children hollowed up by hunger are overwhelming the Patient’s Friends Hospital, the main emergency center for malnourished kids in northern Gaza.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Where some see a neighborhood burdened by people of color, unfamiliar tongues, and strange cultural traditions, others see a vibrant community.—
James Burling,
Oc Register,
28 July 2025
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Over the last 20 years, the average cost of tuition and fees at public universities has increased by a staggering 141% – far outpacing inflation (about 65%) and leaving students burdened with substantial debt.—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Today, disaster seekers pack tours through New Orleans neighborhoods devastated by Hurricane Katrina two decades ago, and visitors continue to flock to Galveston to see the legacy of a hurricane that killed thousands more than a century earlier.—
Lila Hempel-Edgers
July 22,
Charlotte Observer,
22 July 2025
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Not only has its air defense infrastructure suffered badly in the confrontations with Israel, but its regional proxies and allies – Hamas, Hezbollah and the Assad regime in Syria – have either been devastated by Israel or collapsed altogether.—
Linggong Kong,
The Conversation,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Luis Leon, who received political asylum in the United States in 1987 after being tortured under Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet's regime, misplaced his wallet that held his legal residency card, according to Allentown, Pennsylvania, newspaper The Morning Call.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
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Editor’s Pick From assassination plots to torture programs, the agency’s darkest operations have always been at the President’s behest.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
16 July 2025
Verb
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The Austin district relied heavily on contractors to overcome its chronic backlog of evaluation requests.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Thunderbolts showed us the true power of the group hug to overcome . . .—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Verb
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According to Taraborrelli, Jackie was said to be saddened by the news.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
27 July 2025
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We are saddened and troubled by this very serious allegation, and TLC will work cooperatively with the authorities.—
Sydni Ellis,
People.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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And in response to rising rates of districts hiring uncertified teachers, which has troubled lawmakers, Texas would begin investing directly in teacher preparation and certification.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Researcher Manfred Kets de Vries found that the following three issues troubled them the most: The Talion principle.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppress. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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