oppress

[uh-pres]

verb (used with object)

1. to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power.

   a people oppressed by totalitarianism.

   Synonyms: persecute, maltreat

2. to lie heavily upon (the mind, a person, etc.).

   Care and sorrow oppressed them.

   Antonyms: encourage, uphold

3. to weigh down, as sleep or weariness does.

4. Archaic.,  to put down; subdue or suppress.

5. Archaic.,  to press upon or against; crush.

oppress

/ əˈprɛs /

verb

1. to subjugate by cruelty, force, etc

2. to afflict or torment

3. to lie heavy on (the mind, imagination, etc)

4. an obsolete word for overwhelm

Other Word Forms

• oppressible adjective
• oppressor noun
• preoppress verb (used with object)
• reoppress verb (used with object)
• unoppressible adjective
• oppressingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of oppress¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English oppressen, from Middle French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressāre, derivative of Latin oppressus, past participle of opprimere “to squeeze, suffocate,” equivalent to op- “to, toward, against” + -primere (combining form of premere ) “to press”; op-, press ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of oppress¹

C14: via Old French from Medieval Latin oppressāre, from Latin opprimere, from ob- against + premere to press

Synonym Study

Oppress, depress, both having the literal meaning to press down upon, to cause to sink, are today mainly limited to figurative applications. To oppress is usually to subject (a people) to burdens, to undue exercise of authority, and the like; its chief application, therefore, is to a social or political situation: a tyrant oppressing his subjects. Depress suggests mainly the psychological effect, upon the individual, of unpleasant conditions, situations, etc., that sadden and discourage: depressed by the news. When oppress is sometimes used in this sense, it suggests a psychological attitude of more complete hopelessness: oppressed by a sense of failure.

Example Sentences

Instead it helps bring home the horror movie’s big theme about the transcendence of art for oppressed people, including “music so true it can pierce the veil between life and death.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It doesn’t see the world as a battle between oppressors and the oppressed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Sunni-dominated structure was overturned, and members of the Shia majority, previously oppressed, were now eagerly taking their place at the top of the system.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

What the play most painfully illustrates is that for women like these—impoverished or politically oppressed—appealing options are nonexistent.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"We cannot accept that organized crime continues to destroy families, oppress residents, and spread drugs and violence throughout the cities," Lula wrote on the X social media platform.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• afflict 
• annoy 
• beat down 
• harass 
• maltreat 
• overwhelm 
• persecute 
• pick on 
• prey on 
• subjugate 
• suppress 
• torment 
• torture 
• trample 
• vex