as in tyrants
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
the dictatorship had scarcely been overthrown when the formerly oppressed suddenly abandoned their democratic ideals and became the oppressors
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Recent Examples of oppressors
In the piece, the Vicar of Christ is felled not by his oppressors but rather by a random cosmic event.
—
Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026
During the confrontation, Hussein and his followers were massacred, but the imam’s quest for justice became a defining value of Shiite identity, fostering a sense of revolutionary duty to fight oppressors at any cost.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
For Iran, what counts is resistance, against arrogant and wicked oppressors, chiefly the United States and Israel.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
That would overlook how quickly Israel’s allies can turn into tomorrow’s religious oppressors.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
Israel’s message behind the assassination campaign is clear — the Islamic regime is beyond salvaging, and Iranians need to take to the streets to help oust their oppressors themselves.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
Much of progressive ideological frameworks tend to divide the world into oppressors and oppressed.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
The first phase of US occupation was launched in the belief that the Iraqi people would rise up and reject their oppressors.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Dishwatery types become heroes; victims become oppressors.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026
During the confrontation, Hussein and his followers were massacred, but the imam’s quest for justice became a defining value of Shiite identity, fostering a sense of revolutionary duty to fight oppressors at any cost.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
For Iran, what counts is resistance, against arrogant and wicked oppressors, chiefly the United States and Israel.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
That would overlook how quickly Israel’s allies can turn into tomorrow’s religious oppressors.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
Israel’s message behind the assassination campaign is clear — the Islamic regime is beyond salvaging, and Iranians need to take to the streets to help oust their oppressors themselves.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
Much of progressive ideological frameworks tend to divide the world into oppressors and oppressed.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
The first phase of US occupation was launched in the belief that the Iraqi people would rise up and reject their oppressors.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Dishwatery types become heroes; victims become oppressors.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressors
Noun
-
The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Ready to meet the season's new allies, enemies, tyrants, and giants?—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Five private chefs to fearsome dictators all over the world share their experiences of the kitchens and circumstances that led them to these sometimes dangerous and often morally compromising workplaces.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Wannabe dictators wear out their welcome.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppressors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressors. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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