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.
A great weight suddenly was lifted from his soul; a vast exaltation drove out everything that had been oppressing him for so long.
From From the Housetops by Cootes, F. Graham
And they turned eagerly to the very autocrats who had been oppressing them.
From The Deluge by Phillips, David Graham
I began to think her innocent and lost some of the gloom which had been oppressing me.
From Eleven Possible Cases by Fyles, Franklin
Naturally the pent-up flood of verse that had been oppressing him of late surged up and filled his mind with vague and poignant fancies.
From Sundown Slim by Fischer, Anton Otto
Mr. Graham looked relieved from a burden which had been oppressing his conscience for years, and, subsiding into his arm-chair, begged the particulars of Philip's experience during the last twenty years.
From The Lamplighter by Cummins, Maria S.
