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
Relevance
1
as in depressed
to make sad
this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oppressed
Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2025
My prayer is that people here in America, Muslim people, Muslim background people here in America will fight for the rights of oppressed Christian minorities in so many Muslim countries.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Deena Elgenaidi, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
However, when your organization was founded less than 45 years after slavery was abolished, when Black women were still being forced to be wet nurses to the very children of those who oppressed them and lynching was a common occurrence below the Mason-Dixon Line?
—Essence, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Adjective
But South Africa’s decision to bring a case to the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in December 2023 came against the backdrop of earlier decisions that reveal a selective concern for oppressed peoples and international legal obligations.
—Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2025
My prayer is that people here in America, Muslim people, Muslim background people here in America will fight for the rights of oppressed Christian minorities in so many Muslim countries.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
The men are seen as misogynistic, and the women are oppressed.
—Deena Elgenaidi, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
However, when your organization was founded less than 45 years after slavery was abolished, when Black women were still being forced to be wet nurses to the very children of those who oppressed them and lynching was a common occurrence below the Mason-Dixon Line?
—Essence, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressed
Verb
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China has historically been the largest export market for American soybeans, so the embargo has significantly depressed American soybean prices for the past few months.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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Denial No one knew if Tripp had been depressed before his suicide.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The flood of people overwhelmed Bajo Chiquito, an impoverished community of 382 members of the Indigenous Emberá-Wounaan people.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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Food banks nationwide are overwhelmed by surging demand, with long lines and limited supplies.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Offshore shell companies can serve both illicit and legitimate purposes, and the bank said it was troubled by the nominee shareholders who were designated to make decisions about the shell company.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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But people all over the country are increasingly troubled by our government’s lack of fairness and due process and want to do something about it.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After it was revealed that Vince didn't make it out of the inferno, his son Bode (Max Thieriot) and wife Sharon (Diane Farr) were devastated by the loss.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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The war has devastated parts of Ukraine’s medical infrastructure.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The attorneys for the Department of Justice argued that the preliminary injunction blocking Abrego Garcia’s removal to Liberia should be dissolved because the government received assurances from the government of the West African country that he will not be persecuted or tortured.—
Laura Romero,
ABC News,
8 Nov. 2025
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Of the few that have arrived in what Saraf describes as a small agricultural town, many have reported being beaten and tortured by different militia groups stationed along the treacherous route between El Fasher and Tawila.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Mamdani overcame on the campaign trail to become NYC's next mayor.—
,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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After the win, Gilgeous-Alexander shared the minor adversity that the team overcame after falling behind early in this contest.—
Ricardo Sandoval,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As Johnson County continues to lose its attainable housing stock, which refers to homes that are $300,000 or less, more residents are feeling burdened by the rising costs of living.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
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Nationwide, about 100 million people have some form of health care debt, with millions burdened by $10,000 or more in unpaid bills.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While the President was met with boos, so were the Commanders as they were crushed 44-22 by the Detroit Lions.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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The persistence of terrorism in Nigeria, whose northern states abut the West African Sahel region, has strategic implications for the country and beyond if the trend is not reversed and decisively crushed.—
Kingsley Moghalu,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oppressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressed. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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