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.
were oppressing
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past progressiveof oppress.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The other leaders sulked because they were not invited to the conference, but General Bambos dared not trust them with the important matters that were oppressing his ponderous brain and had troubled him for weeks.
From Up the Forked River Or, Adventures in South America by Ellis, Edward Sylvester
We established our quarters in the barracks assigned to us by the municipality; the Austrians built complete fortresses, as is their practice, with the money of the people they were oppressing.
From The Roman Question by About, Edmond
The world's sorrows were oppressing you like a nightmare.
From Windyridge by Riley, W.
"Perhaps it was indignation against the strong who were oppressing the weak?"
From Jena or Sedan? by Beyerlein, Franz
But at least by this time the English, like the French, persecutors were oppressing a minority.
From A Short History of England by Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith)
