Definition of oppression
1a : unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power the continuing oppression of the … underclasses — H. A. Danielsb : something that oppresses especially in being an unjust or excessive exercise of power unfair taxes and other oppressions
2 : a sense of being weighed down in body or mind : depression an oppression of spirits
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Examples of oppression in a Sentence
suffered a lingering oppression in the weeks after his dog died
Recent Examples of oppression from the Web
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And no one understands that better than our stellar staff, many who have come to the United States fleeing the oppression of despotic governments.
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On Friday, June 9, the 2017 Human Rights Watch Film Festival begins at Lincoln Center and IFC Center, offering worthy documentaries about struggle and oppression.
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Like an earlier generation of black icons from Bill Russell to Muhammad Ali, James refuses to separate his athletic achievements from America's long history of racial oppression and contemporary struggles for social justice.
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Her dress of white gloves communicated the inward oppression of middle class black women understandably desperate for respect.
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Comic books have long famously told stories of oppression—
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Israeli proponents of partition used to speak the language of peace: the Palestinians deserve their own state, and their oppression is a bad thing.
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Israeli proponents of partition used to speak the language of peace: the Palestinians deserve their own state, and their oppression under the current arrangement, even if inevitable on security grounds, is a bad thing.
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In its wake, and intensifying by the day, the Internet is turning out not to be a global village but rather a global means of oppression.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oppression'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of oppression
14th century
OPPRESSION Defined for Kids
oppression
playDefinition of oppression for Students
: cruel or unjust use of power or authority
Law Dictionary
oppression
playLegal Definition of oppression
: an unjust or excessive exercise of power: as a : unlawful, wrongful, or corrupt exercise of authority by a public official acting under color of authority that causes a person harm b : dishonest, unfair, wrongful, or burdensome conduct by corporate directors or majority shareholders that entitles minority shareholders to compel involuntary dissolution of the corporation c : inequality of bargaining power resulting in one party's lack of ability to negotiate or exercise meaningful choice — see also unconscionability
Learn More about oppression
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See words that rhyme with oppression Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for oppression Spanish Central: Translation of oppression Nglish: Translation of oppression for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of oppression for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oppression
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