Oppress
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /əˈpɹɛs/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Oppress is a verb meaning (transitive) To keep down by unjust force.
Meaning
(transitive) To keep down by unjust force.
More Meanings
- (transitive) To make sad or gloomy.
- (transitive, obsolete) Physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush.
- (transitive, obsolete) To sexually violate; to rape.
- (obsolete) Oppression.
Example Sentences
We were oppressed by the constant grey skies.
The rural poor were oppressed by the land-owners.
Most mercilesse of women, VVyden hight, / Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse, / And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse.
Word Forms
- oppresses
- oppressing
- oppressed
- oppressest
- oppressedst
- oppresseth
Synonyms for oppress
Depending on context, synonyms include suppress, begloom, aggrieve, attrist, begrieve, besorrow.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include suppress, harass, crush, persecute, quell, repress.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.