oppress

Synonym Chooser

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

Example 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 This diabolical, maximalist group oppresses Gazans and its existence ensures the Palestinians will not have a state. Zoltan Istvan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025 On Monday, extreme heat will oppress much of the Central and Eastern U.S., with the most dangerous combination of high temperatures and humidity continuing through Wednesday, according to the NWS forecast. Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025 Doing so was, for the Amin regime, a way of claiming a morally essential role: liberator of Africa’s hitherto oppressed people. Derek R. Peterson, The Conversation, 18 July 2025 In Liberia, especially, the Peace Corps volunteers were repulsed by the ways that Americo-Liberians — the descendants of the Black Americans who founded the country — oppressed indigenous ethnic groups. Jonathan Zimmerman, New York Daily News, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for oppress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress
Verb
  • The plan keeps international credits out of the EU Emissions Trading System, avoiding the risk of depressing carbon prices for European industry.
    María Mendiluce, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • As the infection overwhelms the body, severe drops in blood pressure further starve vital organs of oxygen.
    Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
  • That’s a fast track to overwhelm, a broken budget, and frustration.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Prince George is not being burdened by tremendous royal expectations, exposure and scrutiny.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Humanities and arts programs find themselves disproportionately, but not exclusively, burdened.
    Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The disaster is remembered not just for its winds, but for the crushing surge of water that devastated rural Louisiana parishes and tore through the heart of New Orleans.
    Sarah Alegre, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The children were among the 27 campers and counselors who died at the Christian all-girls’ camp during the flooding that caused the Guadalupe River to rise to historic levels, devastating the Texas Hill Country.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Emily Brontë appears in every way indifferent to the need for love and companionship that tortured the lives of her sisters.
    Emily Temple September 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Jamie Simpson of Covington was sentenced in March to 60 years in prison for holding his wife captive and torturing her for hours before barricading himself inside her home in a lengthy standoff with police.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Outperforming some of them on the pitch is one thing, but Newcastle cannot yet overcome the off-field strength of the ‘Big Six’.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Part of the presentation focused on helping people overcome their fear of being ostracized for having plants seen as too wild.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Tro’Mario Allen Jr.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2025
  • We are deeply saddened by Zach’s unexpected passing.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • China is poised to win great swathes of the booming European EV market and that is troubling the automakers.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Yet most fans do not care unduly about what a squad costs and while sound financial management is welcomed, the strength of the team is the thing that is troubling them right now.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Oppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppress. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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