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oppression

noun

ə-ˈpre-shən How to pronounce oppression (audio)
Definition of oppressionnext
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits suffered a lingering oppression in the weeks after his dog died

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 oppression Nike had plenty to say about oppression when the target was the United States. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026 Into the work, esparza’s has also added a scene from the Florentine Codex showing a Spaniard whipping an Indigenous person and images of ICE raids in LA and Chicago, connecting centuries of oppression together. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 But what does the former embodiment of oppression’s death mean for those who came to like him? — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026 This talk will cover oppression, resistance, struggle, and transformation in Southern California and speakers will explore how this time compares to our past, a news release stated. — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oppression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppression
  1. sadness
  2. depression
  3. melancholy
  4. sorrow
  5. anguish
  6. mournfulness
Noun
  • Postpartum depression can be anxiousness or sadness, tearfulness, difficulty sleeping.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The sadness comes from reflecting on how those founders used their newly independent government and military might against Indigenous people.
    — Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • Proponents say that in its pure form, kratom is a safe, natural herbal supplement that can help manage pain, anxiety and depression and ease the effects of opioid withdrawal.
    — Sudhin Thanawala, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, odds are high for an area of low pressure off the western coast of Africa to become tropical depression.
    — Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of depression
Noun
  • On the one hand, there’s a fascination with collective joy and the forms of vernacular invention that aspire to it; on the other, there’s an underlying melancholy that points to the inevitability of isolation, an epistemology of loneliness.
    — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Beneath all the sensuality and beauty, there’s also a lingering melancholy that feels very familiar to me.
    — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 16 June 2026
Definition of melancholy
Noun
  • President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in separate statements and expressed sorrow over the deaths.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
  • In direct contradiction to Herzog, Zamir’s office stated that Azaria had never expressed sorrow or remorse about the killing.
    — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of sorrow
Noun
  • The organization said the discoveries had deepened the anguish of families searching for loved ones.
    — Mogomotsi Magome, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Their mental anguish, out-of-pocket expenses, the time caregivers devote to their work, the wages lost from forgone work — all create spectacular costs for America’s families.
    — Jason Karlawish, STAT, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of anguish
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
Definition of mournfulness

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oppression
oppressive
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Cite this Entry

“Oppression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppression. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on oppression

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oppression

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