Synonyms of oppressed

oppressed 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈprest 

as in persecuted

suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority

setting out on a quixotic quest to right wrongs and to raise up the oppressed peoples of the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

• persecuted
• downtrodden
• crushed
• tyrannized
• abused
• intimidated
• cowed
• hopeless
• maltreated
• mistreated
• bullied
• browbeaten
• dispirited
• abject
• despairing
• hectored
• downcast
• disheartened

oppressed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of oppress

1

as in depressed

to make sad

this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• depressed
• troubled
• tortured
• burdened
• dejected
• saddened
• worried
• weighed down
• concerned
• afflicted
• got down
• distressed
• bothered
• disturbed
• tormented
• upset
• bummed (out)
• dashed
• discouraged
• unsettled
• ailed
• disheartened
• dismayed
• demoralized
• daunted
• perturbed
• dispirited
• agitated
• disquieted
• discomforted
• unhinged
• exercised
• unnerved
• freaked (out)
• discomposed
• undid

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoiced
• brightened
• lightened
• assured
• comforted
• animated
• cheered (up)
• inspired
• enlivened
• buoyed
• stimulated
• excited
• reassured
• invigorated
• soothed
• consoled
• gladdened
• encouraged
• elated
• pleased
• exhilarated
• delighted
• solaced
• lifted
• gratified
• uplifted
• heartened
• elevated
• boosted

2

as in overwhelmed

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

• overwhelmed
• devastated
• overcame
• crushed
• overpowered
• disturbed
• swamped
• ground (down)
• prostrated
• overmastered
• drowned
• defeated
• rocked
• upset
• snowed under
• whelmed
• floored
• shattered
• distressed
• deluged
• demoralized
• refuted
• sank
• threw
• staggered
• confuted
• unnerved
• broke
• unmanned

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of oppressed

Adjective

The Irish were the original oppressed people from the English Empire, and the original colony. — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026

The body pointed to the fact that Iran’s Farabi cinema body, which oversees the country’s submission, was directly controlled by the hardline Islamic Republic regime government, which in turn has suppressed freedom of speech and brutally oppressed filmmakers across its 47 years in power. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 May 2026

Verb

Man oppressed woman legally, economically, socially, educationally, morally, professionally and religiously. — Brian Delay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026

Your structure sorts the whole world into two boxes, oppressor and oppressed. — Joyce Kamanitz, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026