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
Explore Merriam-Webster
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
-
Mr. Trump is right in saying that the Castro regime – headed by Fidel’s brother, Raúl, since 2008 – continues to oppress the Cuban people.
-
The Cuban people are being oppressed by their government.
-
A whole month for queer people to celebrate their continued survival in a world that oppresses, belittles and too often actively brutalizes them.
-
At times, black people, like any group battered and oppressed by the state, may celebrate any perception of forward motion.
-
Abdul Razak Ali Artan also said in the note obtained by The Associated Press through a records request that he was upset by fellow Muslims being oppressed in Myanmar.
-
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.
-
Their opposition is Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) and Lord Darth Varda (David Prowse), who scheme to oppress the galaxy.
-
Malcolm X would later travel the world speaking out on white supremacy and an American system that (by design) set out to oppress African Americans.
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
-
: to treat (a person or group of people) in a cruel or unfair way
-
: 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
-
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
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up oppress? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!