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
Their contributions to their respective fields have dismantled systems of oppression, advocated for LGBTQIA+ human rights, and allowed LGBTQIA+ people to express themselves more freely.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The frontier myth—and its core belief that the West belonged only to white Americans—had become a national ideology by the 1880s and ’90s, ushering in an age of oppression and migration restriction.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Why was there slavery, colonization, or oppression in any form?
—Kevin Powell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Faculty across the state have similarly warned that restrictions on the revised course — including limits on teaching that presents systemic racism, sexism or oppression as primary drivers of inequality — would strip the discipline of core concepts and distort the field.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppression
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The frontier myth—and its core belief that the West belonged only to white Americans—had become a national ideology by the 1880s and ’90s, ushering in an age of oppression and migration restriction.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Why was there slavery, colonization, or oppression in any form?
—Kevin Powell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Faculty across the state have similarly warned that restrictions on the revised course — including limits on teaching that presents systemic racism, sexism or oppression as primary drivers of inequality — would strip the discipline of core concepts and distort the field.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppression
Noun
-
Curtis revealed that Annie, who welcomed her baby boy with husband Jason Wolf in December, was able to take the grief and sadness of losing her godparents and birth as a new beginning.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
-
There will be deaths, of characters as well as relationships, but McInerney’s always-sharp insights on social strata and human nature guarantee that in the midst of sadness we are also entertained.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This sharp satire of the entertainment industry tackles serious issues like addiction and depression while never skimping on the jokes.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In 2024, Ryyan was diagnosed with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD.—
Kennedy Cook,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The film’s empathetic interest in individual, often eccentric human lives gives it a warmth that overrides the underlying melancholy of the material, making for a pleasingly unsentimental crowdpleaser.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Some acknowledged the possibility that melancholy could be inherited.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Of those witnesses, only one testified to seeing Tex show any signs of sorrow.—
Lauren A. White,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Redemptive suffering Shared sorrow is a key part of Iran’s Twelver Shiite identity, which venerates the Prophet Muhammad’s family through daughter Fatima and cousin and son-in-law, Ali.—
Mary Thurlkill,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Large statues of the Virgin Mary show her in various states of mourning, even in anguish.—
Alexis Marshall,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Without a diagnosis, people are unsure about how a condition might progress over time, and this can be a great source of anguish for both patients and their families.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppression. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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