oppress
3 synonyms and 2 antonyms for oppress, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To control or treat a group of people unfairly and cruelly, often by force.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
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.”
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.
