as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
suffered a lingering oppression in the weeks after his dog died
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Recent Examples of oppression
More successful is the overall atmosphere of the workers’ camp and farm, conveying a sense of oppression even without visible fencing.
—
Jay Weissberg, Variety, 19 May 2026
Even bound by the rigid social confines of his period setting, Stappard understands that a modern horror movie cannot meaningfully interrogate historic oppression while forcing an underrepresented hero into an unworthy box.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
The 54-year-old was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her advocacy for human rights and freedom for all.
—Connor Greene, Time, 8 May 2026
Her research aims to examine whether and how spirituality can endure as a form of cultural resilience even in systems permeated by market dynamics, injustice and oppression.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppression
Jay Weissberg, Variety, 19 May 2026
Even bound by the rigid social confines of his period setting, Stappard understands that a modern horror movie cannot meaningfully interrogate historic oppression while forcing an underrepresented hero into an unworthy box.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
The 54-year-old was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her advocacy for human rights and freedom for all.
—Connor Greene, Time, 8 May 2026
Her research aims to examine whether and how spirituality can endure as a form of cultural resilience even in systems permeated by market dynamics, injustice and oppression.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppression
Noun
-
His profound sadness and rage give the audience permission to feel similarly.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
-
The Spurs accrued a 10-point lead at that point, blitzing the Knicks with the type of pressure expected from a team that was a loss away from an offseason filled with sadness.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
His high point will be long forgotten, disastrously undone by his successor to plunge the world into recession, if not depression.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
-
Tasks can include smelling dangerously high or low glucose levels, smelling mood swings, anxiety and depression, smelling an impending seizure and many other tasks.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Absent the lush melancholy of classic synth-pop, what Hervé and Amato had in common with their forbears was a spirit of innovation rooted in profound laziness.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
23 May 2026
-
While the actors are committed, poignant and warm, their upbeat tone doesn’t always blend well with the melancholy of the picture.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Should this come to pass, Kennedy and his allies will have succeeded in Making Microbes Great Again—to our swift and deepening sorrow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the crash, paying tribute to the military personnel killed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
There followed a series of European successes (Italy, Spain, Germany, France) before the anguish, for Brazilians, of seeing big South American rivals Argentina win a third world title in Qatar four years ago.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
14 June 2026
-
Its revivification of history — staged simply and vaulted to extremes of anguish and tension by its fine acting — is both chilling and, in a sharp, icky way, often funny.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Power Ballad should be breezy and fun, with that twist of mournfulness that Carney is always so adept at pulling off.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppression. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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