First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
oppress
verb op·press \ə-ˈpres\
: to treat (a person or group of people) in a cruel or unfair way
: to make (someone) feel sad or worried for a long period of time
Full Definition of OPPRESS
transitive verb
1
a archaic : suppress b : to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority
2
: to burden spiritually or mentally : weigh heavily upon
— op·pres·sor \-ˈpre-sər\ noun
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Origin of OPPRESS
Related to OPPRESS
Synonym Discussion of OPPRESS
wrong, oppress, persecute, aggrieve mean to injure unjustly or outrageously. wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves <a penal system that had wronged him>. oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform <a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant>. persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering <a child persecuted by constant criticism>. aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights <a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups>.
Rhymes with OPPRESS
abscess, access, address, aggress, assess, bench-press, caress, clothespress, coatdress, cold-press, compress, confess, cross-dress, CS, depress, de-stress, digress, distress, drill press, egress, excess, express, finesse, fluoresce, French press, full-dress, handpress, headdress, housedress, idlesse, impress, ingress, Meknes, much less, nightdress, noblesse, no less, obsess, outguess, possess, precess, prestress, princess, process, profess, progress, recess, redress, regress, re-press, repress, shirtdress, side-dress, SS, success, sundress, suppress, tendresse, top-dress, transgress, undress, unless, web press, winepress, word stress
OPPRESS Defined for Kids
oppress
verb op·press \ə-ˈpres\
op·pressedop·press·ing
Definition of OPPRESS for Kids
1
: to control or rule in a harsh or cruel way <The cruel ruler oppressed his people.>
2
: to cause to feel burdened in spirit <Grief oppressed the survivors.>
— op·press·or \-ˈpre-sər\ noun
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