oppress

[uh-pres]

oppress Definition

• 1. to govern or rule cruelly or unjustly; to weigh heavily upon; to burden excessively
• 2. to 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

• dominate
• subjugate
• repress
• persecute
• tyrannize

Antonyms for oppress

• liberate
• emancipate

Idioms Using oppress

• oppress the heart

  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.

• oppress with a sense of guilt

  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.

• oppress like a nightmare

  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

• oppress the button

  to push a button with force

  Example

  He oppressed the button to turn off the alarm.

• oppress the poor

  to treat the poor unfairly or cruelly

  Example

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

• oppress the spirit

  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.