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 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
  • And yet, in Yoon’s hands, a character’s suffering never overwhelms their capacity for tenderness.
    — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • One person has died and rescues are underway as catastrophic flooding overwhelms the Hill Country, a little more than a year after the July 4 floods killed more than 130 people in Central Texas.
    — Mary Ella Hastings July 16, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 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
  • Water-Jet Guided Laser technology overcomes this challenge by channeling a laser inside a microscopic jet of water to precisely cut the material while simultaneously cooling the surface and clearing away debris.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Maybe your favorite wrestler finally overcomes insurmountable odds to become a world champion.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of overcomes
Verb
  • The aspect of the painting that troubles me most, though, is the sleeve of Amélie’s dress.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This moment troubles me not only as a historian, but also as a longtime mentor for college-age student-athletes.
    — Emily Harrison, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of troubles
Verb
  • This adds unstated punishment, fragments medical care, limits programming, and burdens federal agencies with unnecessary logistics.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In a decision written by Judge Barbara Milano Keenan, the 4th Circuit panel ruled that the houses of worship showed that the Department of Homeland Security's policy substantially burdens the free exercise of their religion.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 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 12 Sep. 2026.

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