as in persecuted
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority
setting out on a quixotic quest to right wrongs and to raise up the oppressed peoples of the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in depressed
to make sad
this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overwhelmed
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
a film about a man who is haunted and oppressed by the secrets of his past
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oppressed
Laura E. Alexander, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
Any oppressed people find outlets in humor.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026
Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026
The arrest of Maduro, while a monumental relief for the long-oppressed and abused Venezuelan populace, was incidental.
—Anthony Dominguez, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Adjective
Ethics of risk There are many examples of Christian leaders who have taken on risks out of a religious and moral obligation to provide spiritual care for people in need or advocate for oppressed communities.
—Laura E. Alexander, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
Any oppressed people find outlets in humor.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
With many people around the world fighting for their freedom, Dallas’ historical cemetery stands as an example of how a group of people who were historically oppressed and enslaved could become free and prosperous.
—Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026
The arrest of Maduro, while a monumental relief for the long-oppressed and abused Venezuelan populace, was incidental.
—Anthony Dominguez, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressed
Verb
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The machine worked by reading music that was encoded by holes punched into rolls of paper, which in turn directed airflows to levers that depressed piano keys.—
Adam Ozimek,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
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Democrats who still believe in the New Deal-era promise of government helping the public are a bit depressed by the idea that the solution to their party’s problems is generating less money for that purpose.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As Jordan sat, his mother by his side, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what had just happened, the roar of approval reverberating through the auditorium, my body, seemingly flooded with butterflies, appeared to dissolve into the screen.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
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Strauss leaned into the idea that viewers generally are overwhelmed by streaming platforms that offer dozens if not hundreds of titles but little curation.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After Daniil Medvedev’s comprehensive and belatedly controversial win over Jack Draper in their quarterfinal, Carlos Alcaraz came out to face Cameron Norrie, one of the few players outside of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic who has troubled him the past few years.—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Each of the founders has been troubled with different sets of problems with their respective skin care expectations.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The world has just lost an enormous beam of light, and we are devastated.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
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Tens of thousands of giant sequoia seedlings and saplings are sprouting in a Sierra Nevada grove devastated by the 2021 KNP Complex fire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His fourth attempt was foiled when he was arrested at the airport and detained and tortured for several months.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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The former soldier also said Haitian police mentally and physically tortured the Colombian suspects after they were taken into custody.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sierra Canyon overcame the loss of Maxi Adams to an ankle injury in the first quarter to defeat Richmond Salesian 78-70.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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The win was one of Toronto’s best defensive efforts of the season as the Raptors overcame poor three-point shooting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sinners is aggressively burdened by any other prerogative, and overanalyzing the film’s relationship to largely white awards bodies won’t change the political realities of Hollywood and the structures that support it.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
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But Matt Omer, Buzzfeed’s chief financial officer, said the company is still burdened by legacy commitments.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The countertop material — typically the mineral quartz crushed and cooked with plastic resins, dyes and glass into slabs — was pioneered in 1987 by Israel’s Caesarstone, which still makes it and is named in hundreds of lawsuits, including Peña’s.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
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The pressure in their interior is so great that atoms are crushed and split apart into their constituent particles.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressed. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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