oppress

[uh-pres] / əˈprɛs /

VERB

depress, subdue

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afflict annoy beat down harass maltreat overwhelm persecute pick on prey on subjugate suppress torment torture trample vex

STRONG

abuse aggrieve burden crush dishearten dispirit distress encumber force harry hound outrage overcome overload overpower overthrow plague press ride rule sadden saddle smother strain subdue tax trouble worry wrong

WEAK

despotize keep down put down put screws to put the squeeze on put upon tyrannize weigh heavy upon

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist comfort help make happy please soothe

STRONG

benefit calm compliment delight encourage give in inspirit leave alone let go praise release surrender yield

WEAK

boost gladden

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"These rules lack humanity and rationality, and they oppress us every day."

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

“You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2024

But that doesn’t mean she’s motivated by a desire to oppress.

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2024

This is the hard truth: There is no such thing as pure blood, and no cultural group or human being has the right to oppress another.

From Salon • Jan. 1, 2024

From the moment that Hitler took power in Germany and began to oppress the Jews, I tried to keep track of what was happening.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

Vocabulary lists containing oppress

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker

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List 7

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