oppression

[uh-presh-uhn]

noun

1. the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.

   Synonyms: persecution, despotism, tyranny
   Antonyms: justice, kindness

2. an act or instance of oppressing or subjecting to cruel or unjust impositions or restraints.

3. the state of being oppressed.

   Synonyms: suffering, hardship

4. the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, anxiety, etc.

   Synonyms: suffering, hardship

oppression

/ əˈprɛʃən /

noun

1. the act of subjugating by cruelty, force, etc or the state of being subjugated in this way

2. the condition of being afflicted or tormented

3. the condition of having something lying heavily on one's mind, imagination, etc

Other Word Forms

• nonoppression noun
• preoppression noun
• self-oppression noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oppression¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English oppressioun, from Middle French, from Latin oppressiōn-, stem of oppressiō “a pressing down,” equivalent to oppress(us) “pressed down” + -iō noun suffix; oppress, -ion

Example Sentences

For not only had Mamá and Daddy outsmarted segregation and oppression and sent all four of their children to college, but our daughters would be college educated as well.

Read more on Literature

It was relayed as well to her GoFundMe page, which asked donors to help cover her ongoing daily care costs while decrying the need for such charity as “ableist oppression.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Spend much time in any of these disciplines’ classrooms and you’ll hear such phrases as “resisting systems of oppression,” “advancing social justice” and “preparing students to become agents of social change.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The haunting song - touching on 90s apartheid in South Africa and oppression - reached number four in the UK charts in 1987.

Read more on BBC

Is it worth considering when people unite against tyranny and oppression?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abuse 
• brutality 
• coercion 
• cruelty 
• despotism 
• dictatorship 
• domination 
• injustice 
• maltreatment 
• persecution 
• suffering 
• tyranny