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
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
Rather than change the structures that oppress the masses, Benjamin writes, the fascist merely offers the masses a spectacle that gives them the impression that their desires have been met.
—
Constance Grady, Vox, 25 Apr. 2025
His emphasis on God’s love and his demand that the church go out and minister to oppressed and needy people impressed even those who disagreed with him.
—Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
According to the theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez, a contributor to the development of Latin American liberation theology, God does not remain neutral when people are oppressed, so neither should human leaders.
—Annmarie Caño, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2025
Lopakhin and Varya are pushed together throughout the play, but poor Varya, also born working class, will never be able to break through the part of Lopakhin that still idolizes the very nobility that oppressed his family for generations.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppress
Constance Grady, Vox, 25 Apr. 2025
His emphasis on God’s love and his demand that the church go out and minister to oppressed and needy people impressed even those who disagreed with him.
—Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
According to the theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez, a contributor to the development of Latin American liberation theology, God does not remain neutral when people are oppressed, so neither should human leaders.
—Annmarie Caño, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2025
Lopakhin and Varya are pushed together throughout the play, but poor Varya, also born working class, will never be able to break through the part of Lopakhin that still idolizes the very nobility that oppressed his family for generations.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress
Verb
-
His wife, Karen Walsh, hovers over him, ready to depress the plunger on a nasal spray applicator.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
30 May 2025
-
Burgum said China dumps minerals on the global market to depress prices and undercut U.S. companies.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
For example, colorful hardware in a small kitchen with a lot of cabinets can overwhelm the space with visual clutter rather than color.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2025
-
Almost immediately, the new facility was overwhelmed: Between the year of its founding and 1887, 44 percent of the women admitted into San Clemente were pellagrous.—
Asia London Palomba,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
The state should celebrate the homeschooling community, not burden us with regulations.—
Nicholas Tampio,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2025
-
The shuttle got burdened by so many crazy requirements.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
Sand, breeze blocks, storm shutters—these are materials of survival and exclusion, shaped by the hurricanes that regularly devastate her homeland.—
Nargess Banks,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
-
The announcement comes after the Trump administration decided that Arkansas won't receive federal funds to repair infrastructure damaged by the March tornadoes that devastated much of north Arkansas, instead leaving it to the state and localities to pay for the clean-up.—
Neal Earley,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
The footage includes a scene in which a Hitler look-alike is tortured.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2025
-
In 2024, Chinese state media reported at least four separate cases of university students allegedly torturing cats.—
Rebecca Wright,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Learning how to overcome your own anxiety is the first step to helping your kids do the same, said Robbins.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
30 May 2025
-
Skubal overcame a Tommy John procedure in college and a flexor tendon surgery earlier in his big-league career to become one of baseball’s elite pitchers.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
We are deeply saddened by his passing and join the entire Baylor community during this time of mourning.—
Natasha Dye,
People.com,
28 May 2025
-
The Indianapolis Colts and NFL world were saddened on May 21, 2025, when team owner Jim Irsay suddenly passed away in his sleep.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
At a time when the movie industry is troubled in part due to the high cost of special effects, production companies are motivated to stay on top of advancing tech.—
Ryan Faughnder,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
-
But that’s not the issue here nor what is troubling us.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppress. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share