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

Relevance

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

Synonym Chooser

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 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 The American origin story is rooted in the notion that George III was its vanquished villain, an irrational tyrant who oppressed the American colonists. — ABC News, 3 June 2026 To Be Whole,' which teaches that the United States was founded on 'white supremacy' and categorizes individuals as 'oppressors' and 'oppressed' based only on their skin color, not their individual decisions and actions. — Gabriela Vidal, CBS News, 9 June 2026 Man oppressed woman legally, economically, socially, educationally, morally, professionally and religiously. — Brian Delay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for oppress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppress

Verb

However, price bulls highlight a fragile US-Iran ceasefire and past IEA surplus forecasts that failed to depress prices.

— Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
The problem is that too many teachers are failing to motivate students, and the peer effect can go both ways, depressing student achievement in places where ambition isn’t valued.

— Mike Goldstein, The Atlantic, 25 June 2026

Definition of depress

Verb

The city is recommending zoning regulations that fall in line with state statute while trying to calm residents who are worried data centers will overwhelm resources like water and energy and impose on their quality of life.

— Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
But the ownership group is overwhelmed by left-wing politics.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of overwhelm

Verb

Unlike larger networks burdened by high costs, Mercury is built to grow sustainably, providing the right support without compromising independence.

— Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Trump had argued that a president shouldn’t be burdened with defending himself against decades-old charges.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Definition of burden

Verb

Twin earthquakes on June 24 devastated Venezuela, with more than 3,300 deaths and more than 30,000 people reported missing.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Their larvae, which burrow into the flesh of cattle and can be fatal if untreated, can devastate wildlife and bring financial ruin to ranchers.

— Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Definition of devastate

Verb

What unfolds is a unique horror story that is unbelievably entertaining, psychologically torturing and incredibly fun.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
The brutal nature of her murder—she was believed to have been tortured, and her body was cut in half and provocatively posed—helped spark a media frenzy.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 June 2026

Definition of torture

Verb

The rookie point guard overcame early shooting struggles to lead all scorers with 25 points.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
The telecommunications giant’s fight to end landline service is playing out in the FCC and federal court, amid an underlying battle over how much power the agency has to overcome decisions by states.

— Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 4 July 2026

Definition of overcome

Verb

And so the Mississippi River has been this flow of commerce both up and down the river for a long time, but I was really saddened to hear how much of that commerce was people.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Parishioners at Saint Agnes said they were saddened by the schism and would continue to pray for a united church.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026

Definition of sadden

Verb

As the second half began, Cape Verde continued to hold off the Argentinians and managed a couple of opportunities on the opposition’s goal, though nothing that overly troubled Emiliano Martínez.

— Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Woolf composed her great modernist novels and her brilliant essays while troubled by suicidal thoughts and the tumult of two world wars.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 1 July 2026

Definition of trouble

Browse Nearby Words

oppositions

oppress

oppressed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Oppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppress. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of oppress

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on oppress

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes