What is the opposite of “empowerment”?

What is the antonym of “empowerment”?

The antonyms of empowerment are disempowerment and oppression. The antonyms disempowerment and oppression convey a negative or limiting state of being. They imply a lack of power, freedom, or autonomy.

Brief Definitions of the Antonym(s)

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

disempowerment

The act of depriving someone of power, authority, or control.

Example

The new policy resulted in the disempowerment of the employees, who felt they had no say in the decision-making process.

oppression

The exercise of authority or power in a cruel or unjust manner; the systematic mistreatment of a group of people by those in power.

Example

The minority group faced oppression from the ruling class, who denied them basic human rights and freedoms.

How are these antonyms different from each other?

• 1. Disempowerment refers to the act of taking away someone's power or control.
• 2. Oppression refers to the systematic mistreatment of a group of people by those in power.

Good things to know

• 1. Social Justice: Use disempowerment and oppression to describe situations where people are denied their rights and freedoms.
• 2. Advocacy: Incorporate these antonyms in advocacy work to raise awareness about issues related to power and control.
• 3. Education: Teach these antonyms to students to help them understand the importance of empowerment and the negative effects of disempowerment and oppression.

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Remember this!

The antonyms of empowerment are disempowerment and oppression. Use disempowerment to describe the act of taking away someone's power or control, and oppression to describe the systematic mistreatment of a group of people by those in power. These antonyms can be used in social justice, advocacy, and education contexts to raise awareness about issues related to power and control.