oppress
verb (used with object)
to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power.
had been oppressing
-
past perfect progressiveof oppress.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then, having come to this resolve, he strove might and main to banish from his mind those disagreeable reminiscences that had been oppressing him, to turn his attention to subjects of a different complexion.
From Varney the Vampire Or the Feast of Blood by Thomas Preskett Prest
To the Squire those revelations were of the dearest importance; for they relieved his mind from a weight which had been oppressing it for some time, and set his heart at rest.
From Handy Andy, Volume 2 — a Tale of Irish Life by Samuel Lover
It was as though a weight, which had been oppressing him for years, had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders.
From The Night Riders A Romance of Early Montana by Ridgwell Cullum
I began to think her innocent and lost some of the gloom which had been oppressing me.
From Eleven Possible Cases by Franklin Fyles
And they turned eagerly to the very autocrats who had been oppressing them.
From The Deluge by David Graham Phillips
