oppress

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb oppress differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of oppress are aggrieve, persecute, and wrong. While all these words mean "to injure unjustly or outrageously," oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.

a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

When could aggrieve be used to replace oppress?

In some situations, the words aggrieve and oppress are roughly equivalent. However, aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.

a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

When might persecute be a better fit than oppress?

Although the words persecute and oppress have much in common, persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.

a child persecuted by constant criticism

When is it sensible to use wrong instead of oppress?

While the synonyms wrong and oppress are close in meaning, wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.

a penal system that had wronged him

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 oppress First, students are primed through exposure to narratives that depict a binary world of oppressors and oppressed. Kevin Waldman, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025 Each has an aggressor and a man oppressed. Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025 But, when the Evil Queen takes over, her dark manner and heavy-handed leadership oppress the people. Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 20 Mar. 2025 Back in the city, the scheming and backstabbing and oppressing continues apace. Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oppress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress
Verb
  • More than 1 in 8 people ages 12 and up in the US have been depressed in recent years, according to data published Wednesday by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.
    Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Doing so depresses a lever at the back of the lock, which automatically causes the arms to swing back in and lock together around the far side of the post.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Don't let the stress overwhelm the joy of the occasion—remember, some nerves are good!
    Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Medical services are overwhelmed by the number of those injured, including civilians.
    Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Compliance, for one, poses a significant hurdle, specifically for healthcare organizations already burdened by tight margins and complex operational terrains.
    Chris Bowen, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • But lower courts declined to put the county’s policy on hold as the case proceeded, saying the plaintiffs didn’t show their religious exercise was substantially burdened.
    Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At first, Tyrion's owner was devastated with her dog's diagnosis.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The loss has brought yet another heartbreak for the Townsend family, stemming from the mass shooting that devastated this suburban Denver community 26 years ago.
    Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Court's ruling requires DHS to provide basic procedural protections so that persons are not secretly removed to a country where they may be persecuted or tortured.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Michael Sang Correa was charged with torturing five men believed to be opponents of Yahya Jammeh following an unsuccessful plot to remove him from power in 2006.
    Colleen Slevin, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Not without its controversy, like life, the show has tried to demonstrate that family can overcome anything with love, laughter, and conversation.
    DeVonne Goode, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Trailing 0-2, the Heat now faces a series deficit that not many NBA teams have overcome.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Read the full statement from Nicky Katt’s sister here: Personal Statement on the Loss of My Brother I am deeply saddened that the details of my brother’s passing were made public without my consent at a time when our family was still trying to process the shock and grief of his loss.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2025
  • School principal Robert Garcia said in a statement to community members that he is saddened about the teen’s death.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Kelley added that she was not troubled by Fellers and Foote’s opinions on trans athletes but was concerned about protecting an individual student from being the sole subject of a protest.
    Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The report said he was troubled by the way the bond market was acting.
    Kevin Stankiewicz,Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Oppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppress. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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