What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
victimising
Example
The company was accused of victimizing employees who spoke out against management. [victimizing: verb]
Example
She felt like she was being victimized by her classmates because of her accent. [victimized: past tense]
oppress
Example
The government was accused of oppressing its citizens and denying them basic human rights. [oppressing: verb]
Example
She felt oppressed by the strict rules and regulations imposed by her employer. [oppressed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Oppress is a more commonly used word than victimising in everyday language. It is often used to describe historical and systemic forms of mistreatment, such as racism, sexism, and colonialism. Victimising is less common and is often used in specific contexts, such as workplace harassment or bullying.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between victimising and oppress?
Oppress is generally considered a more formal word than victimising, as it is often used in academic and political contexts to describe systemic forms of mistreatment. Victimising, on the other hand, is more commonly used in informal contexts, such as personal conversations or news articles.
