# oppress

/əˈpɹɛs/ (US) · /əpɹˈɛs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/oppress
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to treat unfairly by force

verb · CEFR B2

to treat a person or group in a cruel and unfair way, especially by taking away their rights.

For teachers: to keep a person or group in subservience through the unjust exercise of authority or force.

- The people were oppressed by a government that did not allow them to vote.
- For decades, the regime oppressed ethnic minorities by restricting their access to education and prohibiting the use of their native language in public.

### 2. to make someone feel sad

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to make you feel worried, sad, or uncomfortable for a long time.

For teachers: to weigh heavily on the mind, spirits, or senses, causing a feeling of depression or anxiety.

- The grey weather and the silence of the house began to oppress her.
- A profound sense of failure seemed to oppress him, making it difficult to focus on the potential solutions presented by his colleagues.

### 3. to crush or smother

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to physically press down on someone or something with a heavy weight.

For teachers: to physically overwhelm, crush, or smother by applying pressure.

- The heavy heat of the afternoon seemed to oppress every living thing in the valley.
- In the ancient tale, the giant's massive hand would oppress any warrior who dared to enter the mountain pass.

## Examples

- The heavy rain began to oppress the small village.
- The new law was designed to oppress the local workers and prevent them from joining a union.
- The oppressive atmosphere of the prison was exacerbated by the lack of natural light and the constant sound of heavy boots on the stone floor.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.