OPPRESS Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'oppress' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of oppress are aggrieve , persecute , and wrong . While all these words mean "to injure unjustly or outrageously," oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform. // a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

Q: When could 'aggrieve' be used to replace 'oppress'?

In some situations, the words aggrieve and oppress are roughly equivalent. However, aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights. // a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

Q: When might 'persecute' be a better fit than 'oppress'?

Although the words persecute and oppress have much in common, persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering. // a child persecuted by constant criticism

Q: When is it sensible to use 'wrong' instead of 'oppress'?

While the synonyms wrong and oppress are close in meaning, wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves. // a penal system that had wronged him

oppress

verb

ə-ˈpres

Definition of oppress next

as in to depress

to make sad this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to overwhelm

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

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How does the verb oppress differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of oppress are aggrieve, persecute, and wrong. While all these words mean "to injure unjustly or outrageously," oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.

a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

When could aggrieve be used to replace oppress?

In some situations, the words aggrieve and oppress are roughly equivalent. However, aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.

a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

When might persecute be a better fit than oppress?

Although the words persecute and oppress have much in common, persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.

a child persecuted by constant criticism

When is it sensible to use wrong instead of oppress?

While the synonyms wrong and oppress are close in meaning, wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.

a penal system that had wronged him

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of oppress These celebrities are not standing up for people that are being oppressed. —

Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Sep. 2024 No one state should be allowed to dominate the process, nor should the big states be allowed to oppress the small. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 Yet, victimhood narrative advocates do just that, framing us as perpetual outsiders, oppressed by America. —

Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 Although Dalits make up about 17% of India's population, the group, especially women, has been socially and historically oppressed. —

Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for oppress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress

Verb

There is growing evidence, for example, that credit scores depressed by medical debt can threaten people’s access to housing and drive homelessness.

— Noam N. Levey, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Her big personality is, at first, a distraction technique, to keep the girls from letting poverty depress them.

— Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024