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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of oppressed
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026
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
Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Adjective
Alper used his speech to express solidarity with oppressed people everywhere.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
She was oppressed by his big shadow.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
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
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
-
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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Poland says it's been overwhelmed by the influx and argues that the migrants were sent by Russia and its ally Belarus to destabilize Poland and other Western countries.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The flood of reports sent to the DOJ after her solicitation overwhelmed the few remaining attorneys, who were forced to rush to meet a legal deadline requiring the division to examine all such submissions within 10 days of their filing.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Most Americans are troubled by the belief that some wealthy people and corporations don’t pay their fair share of taxes, according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted in January.—
Linley Sanders,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Ward, now living in Denver, said she was troubled by how recent some events were.—
Gary Fields,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Perez, Vargas and Blanco were devastated by the decision to let Braddy live.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
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But the loss of those extra property tax dollars devastated cities, which had been scrambling since Proposition 13 put the brakes on property tax increases.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Two others who authorities say have tortured their children await their courtroom fates after being hit with dozens of abuse counts.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
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Schiller was tortured endlessly.—
Troy Roberts,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Michael Busch ended an 0-for-30 slide with a tying, two-run single in the eighth inning and Carson Kelly had a winning single in the ninth as the Chicago Cubs overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 on Sunday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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Some of the most prominent names in Georgia are highlighted in a Forbes list of those who overcame circumstances to become among the most accomplished people in the country.—
Kelly Yamanouchi,
AJC.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Collins also invokes Dick Gregory’s late-in-life argument that Black entertainers were burdened by liberation expectations that white male entertainers never had to carry.—
Geoff Bennett,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
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The FanDuel regional networks ultimately were doomed by financial problems that have burdened their parent company, Main Street Sports.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2009, in Oklahoma, a tractor-trailer failed to slow for traffic and crushed a Hyundai Sonata and a Kia Spectra.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Nothing is sadder than to watch people stroll past that memorial as if nothing is out of the ordinary, our civic pride and historical perspective crushed under the weight of indifference.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressed. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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