oppress

[uh-pres]

oppress Definition

  • 1to govern or rule cruelly or unjustly; to weigh heavily upon; to burden excessively
  • 2to lie heavily upon (the mind, a person, etc.); to weigh down; to depress

Using oppress: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "oppress" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The dictator oppressed the people for years.

  • Example

    Women were oppressed for centuries and denied basic rights.

  • Example

    The heavy workload oppressed him and made him feel exhausted.

  • Example

    The sadness of the loss oppressed her and she couldn't stop crying.

oppress Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for oppress

Antonyms for oppress

Idioms Using oppress

  • to cause someone to feel sad or heavy-hearted

    Example

    The news of the tragedy oppressed his heart and he couldn't stop thinking about it.

  • to make someone feel guilty or responsible for something

    Example

    She tried to oppress him with a sense of guilt, but he knew he wasn't at fault.

  • to be a constant source of worry or anxiety

    Example

    The debt was oppressing him like a nightmare, and he couldn't sleep at night.

Phrases with oppress

  • to push a button with force

    Example

    He oppressed the button to turn off the alarm.

  • to treat the poor unfairly or cruelly

    Example

    The government's policies oppress the poor and make their lives harder.

  • to cause someone to feel sad, hopeless, or discouraged

    Example

    The constant criticism from his boss oppressed his spirit and made him lose confidence.

Origins of oppress

from Old French 'opresser', from Latin 'opprimere', meaning 'to press against'

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Summary: oppress in Brief

The verb 'oppress' [uh-pres] means to rule or govern cruelly or unjustly, or to weigh heavily upon someone or something. It can refer to political oppression, as in 'The dictator oppressed the people for years,' or emotional oppression, as in 'The sadness of the loss oppressed her and she couldn't stop crying.' The phrase 'oppress the button' means to push a button with force, while the idiom 'oppress the heart' means to cause someone to feel sad or heavy-hearted.

How do native speakers use this expression?