oppresses

verb

present tense third-person singular of oppress
1
as in depresses
to make sad this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overwhelms
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

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 oppresses Tromplz maps the violence that oppresses Venezuelans and exposes the displacement of Venezuelan migrants. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 It is governed by a brutal regime that oppresses its people and is an enemy to the United States. — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026 His policies have been instrumental in dismantling the criminal enterprise that oppresses the Venezuelan people. — Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 White supremacy oppresses all of humanity. — Monifa Dayo, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppresses
  1. depresses
  2. overwhelms
  3. tortures
  4. devastates
  5. saddens
  6. overcomes
  7. troubles
  8. burdens
Verb
  • The knob twists and depresses like a button (with programmable options for both a short and long press).
    — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Nevertheless, something might occur at work that depresses you.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 June 2026
Definition of depresses
Verb
  • The controversy highlights a growing concern in academia about whether some researchers could rely too heavily on AI to churn out a wave of papers that overwhelms journals charged with vetting the work.
    — TODD WALLACK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Eventually, allegory overwhelms dramaturgy, with a group of soccer hooligans—emblems of the volatility of men under threat—playing a pivotal role in Leo’s end.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of overwhelms
Verb
  • At first, all signs point to Bobby, including a mercenary who survived the attack on Halstead Manor that Eddie tortures to extract information.
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • On his latest Hyperdub release, the Japanese producer born Takahide Higuchi sings more than on previous records but tortures his voice through a gauntlet of pitch-shifter effects.
    — Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 27 July 2026
Definition of tortures
Verb
  • As climate chaos causes oceans to swallow coastlands, and as surging water displaces and devastates communities, social survival will demand that people find ways to live and work with – and on – the water.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The urban planner and former professor also knows what happens next after a powerful earthquake devastates whole communities.
    — Luis Giraldo, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastates
Verb
  • However, that really saddens me now.
    — Abigail Wise, Outside, 3 Jan. 2026
  • Being stuck in the middle is what saddens the Others.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
Definition of saddens
Verb
  • This process allows for precise positioning of cells and the generation of custom three-dimensional structures and also overcomes challenges with random cellular self-organization.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Paired with a convincing lead turn by Best, as well as moving work from Gourrier and especially Joseph, the earnest series overcomes its stock biopic structure to linger with viewers in a manner more pleasing than disbelieving.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of overcomes
Verb
  • But the equity market’s rise this year has been driven primarily by just a few sectors, which troubles some analysts.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The aspect of the painting that troubles me most, though, is the sleeve of Amélie’s dress.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of troubles
Verb
  • Traffic burdens residents daily, and heavy rain keeps exposing the same stormwater weaknesses.
    — Miami Herald staff, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
  • This adds unstated punishment, fragments medical care, limits programming, and burdens federal agencies with unnecessary logistics.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of burdens

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Cite this Entry

“Oppresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppresses. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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