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
Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2025
My prayer is that people here in America, Muslim people, Muslim background people here in America will fight for the rights of oppressed Christian minorities in so many Muslim countries.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Deena Elgenaidi, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
However, when your organization was founded less than 45 years after slavery was abolished, when Black women were still being forced to be wet nurses to the very children of those who oppressed them and lynching was a common occurrence below the Mason-Dixon Line?
—Essence, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Adjective
But South Africa’s decision to bring a case to the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in December 2023 came against the backdrop of earlier decisions that reveal a selective concern for oppressed peoples and international legal obligations.
—Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2025
My prayer is that people here in America, Muslim people, Muslim background people here in America will fight for the rights of oppressed Christian minorities in so many Muslim countries.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
The men are seen as misogynistic, and the women are oppressed.
—Deena Elgenaidi, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
However, when your organization was founded less than 45 years after slavery was abolished, when Black women were still being forced to be wet nurses to the very children of those who oppressed them and lynching was a common occurrence below the Mason-Dixon Line?
—Essence, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressed
Verb
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Rather than feeling triumphant at how believable ELIZA was, Weizenbaum was depressed by how gullible people seemed to be.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
26 Aug. 2025
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Her research has shown that lynchings depressed the rate of patent applications by Black Americans, which could have otherwise contributed to innovation and economic growth.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The offensive line has made progress since they were overwhelmed by Miami's front seven in Week 1, but the unit will be without a key member for the next few games.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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That’s according to data conducted by The Harris Poll for Nift, a double-sided marketplace that allows companies to incentivize consumers with gift cards, shows that more than 60 percent of consumers are overwhelmed by the number of ads brands and retailers present to them.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though he was initially troubled to find his image being used on Sora 2, the implementation of new guardrails around consent seem to have assuaged his concerns.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
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Your letter troubled me, friend.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Residents of Kingston, Jamaica, were already dealing with floodwaters on Friday, as concerns are growing that the impact could be the worst since Hurricane Gilbert devastated the island in 1988.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
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This happened when Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last year.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As of 2025, at least 130 people are known to have been tortured by Burge and his detectives.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
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Another 11 suspected Tren de Aragua members were hit with multiple felony charges in December after a couple living in the now-shuttered Edge of Lowry apartments was kidnapped and tortured.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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How Tielemans overcame early toils is often used as a source of encouragement by new additions who seem peripheral at first.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Bernal says Mamdani overcame Cuomo's attacks over his relatively thin resume by offering big progressive ideas, like freezing apartment rents and offering free city bus service, that appeal to many young voters.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the weight of those expectations has the ability to crush the shoulders of the fighter who’s burdened with them.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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Millions remain far from liberated from economic pressure, and few of us feel burdened by an excess of free time.—
Arianna Huffington,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At one point in the third quarter, Daniels scrambled against a blitz, stopped to throw, then retreated again 14 yards behind the line of scrimmage and completed a pass while getting crushed to the ground.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Oct. 2025
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The second quarter crushed the Celtics.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oppressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressed. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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