English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

oppress

2 antonyms for oppress — opposites grouped by meaning.

Verb — To control or treat a group of people unfairly and cruelly, often by force.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To control or treat a group of people unfairly and cruelly, often by force.

“The regime oppressed anyone who spoke out against it.”

2. verb

To weigh heavily on the mind, causing distress or unease.

“A sense of dread oppressed her as she waited for the results.”

Opposites

Antonyms

How to use oppress

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

oppress the people oppressed minority feel oppressed

Etymology

From Old French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressare, based on Latin opprimere, "to press against" — from ob- ("against") plus premere ("to press").

Full origin of oppress →

Frequently asked questions

What does “oppress” mean?
The word “oppress” means to control or treat a group of people unfairly and cruelly, often by force. In plain terms, to hold a group of people down unfairly through power or force, or to weigh heavily on someone emotionally.
How do you pronounce “oppress”?
“Oppress” is pronounced uh-PREHS (/əˈpɹɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “oppress” in a sentence?
Here is “oppress” used in a sentence: “The regime oppressed anyone who spoke out against it.”
What part of speech is “oppress”?
“Oppress” is a verb.
Where does the word “oppress” come from?
The word “oppress” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressare, based on Latin opprimere, "to press against" — from ob- ("against") plus premere ("to press").
How many meanings does “oppress” have?
“Oppress” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to control or treat a group of people unfairly and cruelly, often by force.

Related words

People also searched

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of oppress
Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.