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oppress

[ uh-pres ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power:
a people oppressed by totalitarianism.
Synonyms: ,
to lie heavily upon (the mind, a person, etc.):
Care and sorrow oppressed them.
Antonyms: ,
to weigh down, as sleep or weariness does.
Archaic. to put down; subdue or suppress.
Archaic. to press upon or against; crush.

oppress

/ əˈ��ɛ�� /

verb

to subjugate by cruelty, force, etc
to afflict or torment
to lie heavy on (the mind, imagination, etc)
an obsolete word for overwhelm

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Derived Forms

�Ǳ�ˈ��ǰ�, noun
�Ǳ�ˈ��Բ��, adverb

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Other Word Forms

�Ǳ�·��·��·�� adjective
�Ǳ�·��·��ǰ� noun
��·�Ǳ�·�� verb (used with object)
��·�Ǳ�·�� verb (used with object)
un·�Ǳ�·��·��·�� adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of oppress¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English oppressen, from Middle French oppresser, from Medieval Latin �Ǳ��, derivative of Latin oppressus, past participle of opprimere “to squeeze, suffocate,” equivalent to op- “to, toward, against” + -primere (combining form of premere ) “to press”; op-, press ¹

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Word History and Origins

Origin of oppress¹

C14: via Old French from Medieval Latin �Ǳ��, from Latin opprimere, from ob- against + premere to press

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Synonym Study

Oppress, depress, both having the literal meaning to press down upon, to cause to sink, are today mainly limited to figurative applications. To oppress is usually to subject (a people) to burdens, to undue exercise of authority, and the like; its chief application, therefore, is to a social or political situation: a tyrant oppressing his subjects. Depress suggests mainly the psychological effect, upon the individual, of unpleasant conditions, situations, etc., that sadden and discourage: depressed by the news. When oppress is sometimes used in this sense, it suggests a psychological attitude of more complete hopelessness: oppressed by a sense of failure.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

As the church’s 266th leader, he was revered by many Catholics and theologians for his commitment to social justice and focus on church ministry to migrants, poor and oppressed people.

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Nevertheless, as pope, Francis rehabilitated and reconciled with several liberation theologians once exiled by his predecessors and seemed to share the goal of orienting the church more towards serving the oppressed.

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His emphasis on God’s love and his demand that the church go out and minister to oppressed and needy people impressed even those who disagreed with him.

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Jesus would have told us to care for the poor and oppressed.

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Politically it is no longer a story of oppressor versus oppressed.

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Related Words

oppositive oppressed

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