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
Her performances quickly gain in popularity, and Seti becomes a star for a young generation that no longer wants to be oppressed by the regime.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 June 2025
Its fight is with the regime, not with the Iranian people, who have been oppressed by the ayatollahs for almost half a century.
—Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
She had been forced to learn the intricacies of American patriarchy from the moment she was born, to examine those who aimed to oppress her down to the smallest of details.
—Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Cell 16 credited the Black Liberation movement as an inspiration for their group while acknowledging that women were oppressed even within that movement.
—Hazlitt, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppress
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 June 2025
Its fight is with the regime, not with the Iranian people, who have been oppressed by the ayatollahs for almost half a century.
—Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
She had been forced to learn the intricacies of American patriarchy from the moment she was born, to examine those who aimed to oppress her down to the smallest of details.
—Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Cell 16 credited the Black Liberation movement as an inspiration for their group while acknowledging that women were oppressed even within that movement.
—Hazlitt, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress
Verb
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Each death severs family income streams, depresses local consumption, and deepens intergenerational poverty.—
Sughnen Yongo,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
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The war in Gaza since October 2023 has likely depressed the willingness of international investors to put money into the kingdom.—
Karen Elliott House,
Time,
10 July 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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For instance, if a colleague of color shares an experience of racial bias, responding with emotional upset (even if valid) can shift the focus back to the person in power, burdening the individual seeking support.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
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His fiscal choices are reckless, favoring insiders while burdening taxpayers.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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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Becky Lynch overcame Lyra Valkyria and Bayley to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship in what was possibly the match of the night.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
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Noncompliance can mean monetary penalties, restricted market access and lasting reputational damage that can be very difficult to overcome.—
Paresh Sagar,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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We are saddened to learn of the passing of Blue Jays great, Jim Clancy.—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
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The school district told The Enquirer they are deeply saddened by the news and are working to ensure supports are in place for the district's students, staff, and Jaymir's family.—
Cameron Knight,
The Enquirer,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Joseph Weizenbaum, a professor at MIT who devised the first chatbot in the 1960s, was astounded and deeply troubled by how readily people poured out their hearts to his program.—
Krista Stevens,
Longreads,
8 July 2025
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Jackie develops feelings for two of the Walter brothers: reliable Alex (Gentry) and troubled Cole (LaLonde).—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppress. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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