Definition of oppress
transitive verb
1a archaic : suppressb : to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority The country has long been oppressed by a ruthless dictator. oppressed minorities
2 : to burden spiritually or mentally : weigh heavily upon oppressed by a sense of failure oppress by intolerable guilt
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Examples of oppress in a Sentence
The country has long been oppressed by a ruthless dictator.
They condemned attempts by the government to oppress its citizens.
people who have traditionally been oppressed by society
Recent Examples of oppress from the Web
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At times, black people, like any group battered and oppressed by the state, may celebrate any perception of forward motion.
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Though the Islamic Defenders Front is mostly known for its moral crusades, the group has also developed deep ties to low-income communities in Jakarta that feel ignored or oppressed by the government.
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Within this human boy lies the power to free the oppressed from the rule of the wicked sorceress…
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oppress'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Synonym Discussion of oppress
OPPRESS Defined for English Language Learners
oppress
playDefinition of oppress for English Language Learners
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: to treat (a person or group of people) in a cruel or unfair way
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: to make (someone) feel sad or worried for a long period of time
OPPRESS Defined for Kids
oppress
playDefinition of oppress for Students
oppressed
;oppressing
1 : to control or rule in a harsh or cruel way The cruel ruler oppressed his people.
2 : to cause to feel burdened in spirit Grief oppressed the survivors.
oppressor
\-ˈpre-sər\ nounLearn More about oppress
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See words that rhyme with oppress Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for oppress Spanish Central: Translation of oppress Nglish: Translation of oppress for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of oppress for Arabic speakers
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