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

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

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 To Be Whole,' which teaches that the United States was founded on 'white supremacy' and categorizes individuals as 'oppressors' and 'oppressed' based only on their skin color, not their individual decisions and actions. — Gabriela Vidal, CBS News, 9 June 2026 The rules of the game were rigged to ensure the groups considered most oppressed did the worst. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2026 If the second section presents the diagnosis, then in the footnote to Howl Ginsberg writes a prescription, because if we’re oppressed by a dark faith then the only antidote is a different one. — Literary Hub, 3 June 2026 The American origin story is rooted in the notion that George III was its vanquished villain, an irrational tyrant who oppressed the American colonists. — ABC News, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for oppress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress

Verb

In addition, the way graduation rates are reported across BIE schools was changed to address flawed data collection that previously depressed the numbers.

— Savannah Peters, Fortune, 13 July 2026
The Swiss victory over Colombia in Tuesday’s knockout match seemed to depress the market further.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026

Definition of depress

Verb

The steak was smoky and tender, with the kind of char that lingers without overwhelming the meat.

— Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Going forward, Fedorov said, in order to overwhelm Russia’s recruitment pipeline, the country’s armed forces would aim to take out fifty thousand per month.

— Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 15 July 2026

Definition of overwhelm

Verb

For decades, the powers that be have burdened the Eastside with freeways, warehouses, public corruption, unsightly developments that have brought on gentrification and civic negligence bordering on the criminal.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
That includes funding long-term care without burdening family, building wealth intentionally over decades and creating the capacity to give, transfer or invest with purpose.

— Meredith Moore, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of burden

Verb

Of course, they’re devastated, and so is Clark, who is left with an ideal, a paragon of self-sacrifice, a superhero to remember and look up to, but not a friend.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
This all comes after reports that Lively was devastated not to get an invite to Swift’s wedding.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 13 July 2026

Definition of devastate

Verb

Where the film diverts from the norm lies in the unique, complicated characters and their weird, tortured even touching relationships.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 July 2026
Along these routes, the bulldozers piled up mounds to enclose fortified compounds, military outposts and detention facilities where Palestinians were interrogated and tortured.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Definition of torture

Verb

After scoring in Mexico’s opening match against South Africa — his first goal at a World Cup — Jimenez was overcome with emotion on the pitch.

— Tom Burrows, New York Times, 12 July 2026
To be able to feel and touch the community of Cologne, and this person who suffered that ordeal and overcame it — and then managed to carry out the courage of her convictions with Ukrainian refugees.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2026

Definition of overcome

Verb

The nonprofit said it was saddened that the whales would remain in captivity, but acknowledged the move would likely improve their immediate welfare after years of deteriorating conditions at Marineland.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Forte was stunned to learn that the tower was closed to the public and saddened to see its sorry state.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of sadden

Verb

One death especially, that of his young cousin Sinon (Elliot Page), troubles him most of all.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Reaction to Vatican excommunication De Piante said a handful of families skipped the first Sunday mass after the Vatican’s declaration because they were troubled by the news.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026

Definition of trouble

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oppositions

oppress

oppressed

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“Oppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppress. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of oppress

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