OPPRESS Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'oppress' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of oppress are aggrieve , persecute , and wrong . While all these words mean "to injure unjustly or outrageously," oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform. // a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

Q: When could 'aggrieve' be used to replace 'oppress'?

In some situations, the words aggrieve and oppress are roughly equivalent. However, aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights. // a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

Q: When might 'persecute' be a better fit than 'oppress'?

Although the words persecute and oppress have much in common, persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering. // a child persecuted by constant criticism

Q: When is it sensible to use 'wrong' instead of 'oppress'?

While the synonyms wrong and oppress are close in meaning, wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves. // a penal system that had wronged him

oppress

verb

ə-ˈpres

Definition of oppress

as in to depress

to make sad this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to overwhelm

to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress a film about a man who is haunted and oppressed by the secrets of his past

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb oppress differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of oppress are aggrieve, persecute, and wrong. While all these words mean "to injure unjustly or outrageously," oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.

a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

When could aggrieve be used to replace oppress?

In some situations, the words aggrieve and oppress are roughly equivalent. However, aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.

a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

When might persecute be a better fit than oppress?

Although the words persecute and oppress have much in common, persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.

a child persecuted by constant criticism

When is it sensible to use wrong instead of oppress?

While the synonyms wrong and oppress are close in meaning, wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.

a penal system that had wronged him

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of oppress Man oppressed woman legally, economically, socially, educationally, morally, professionally and religiously. — Brian Delay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026 Your structure sorts the whole world into two boxes, oppressor and oppressed. — Joyce Kamanitz, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026 In other words, if Jay-Z’s ascent becomes shorthand for Black progress, then the critique of the system that continues to oppress those at the margins starts to fade. — Jabari M. Evans, The Conversation, 24 June 2026 The album is both plea, polemic and protest, but its argument — that oppressed and working people deserve rights and dignity, and that those things have historically been won through rebellion and revolution — is hardly radical. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for oppress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress

Verb

Hall-effect switches come in 3-pin or 5-pin varieties, and the polarity of the switch’s magnet must be compatible with the PCB’s sensors, or depressing the switch may not trigger the sensor beneath it.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026
Political polarization certainly plays a role in depressing sales, as does inadequate charging infrastructure.

— Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of depress

Verb

Higher interest rates benefit savers but burden the less solvent with 20% credit card rates and expensive auto loans, and these are the consumers most likely to cut spending.

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
About 7 in 10 Hazelwood renters with household income under $50,000 are burdened.

— Ira Goldstein, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of burden

Verb

Pi-o wins the competition, but is devastated at the disappearance of his friend.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
The goal, Ukrainian officials and military experts say, is to devastate Ukraine’s economy — and the country’s ability to sustain the war effort — while breaking the population’s will to fight by making everyday life increasingly difficult.

— Constant Méheut, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of devastate

Verb

Some veterans say recruiters deceived them and Haitian authorities tortured them; their families call them scapegoats.

— Astrid Suárez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Alas, Hersh was to miss the flight because he was still being held hostage, starving, tortured, and surviving on that date in terrifying confinement.

— Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of torture

Verb

These sessions have helped Ellis develop a better understanding of the challenges others have overcome.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
The three-time AL MVP played just seven games after May 31 because of a fractured rib and the leg injury, an absence the team couldn't overcome.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of overcome

Verb

Many in the arts community are saddened and concerned about losing Robert Rauschenberg’s former New York home and studio, which has served as an exhibition and research site.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
The move to quickly shut down all locations on Friday saddened some New Yorkers with a sweet tooth and marked the culmination of a feverish growth spurt that included a messy final year for the company and changing consumer habits.

— New York Times, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of sadden

Verb

And some Pac-12 teams emerging through the first half of the season could trouble the Broncos, such as Oregon State and Colorado State.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Oct. 2026
Lucie’s talented-but-troubled student, Susan Yi, writes fiction that resembles an accusation about Lucie.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of trouble

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oppositions

oppress

oppressed

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“Oppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppress. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of oppress

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