OPPRESSED Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

oppressed 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈprest

Definition of oppressed

as in persecuted

suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority setting out on a quixotic quest to right wrongs and to raise up the oppressed peoples of the world

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oppressed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of oppress

as in depressed

to make sad this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in overwhelmed

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

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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 oppressed

Adjective

The body pointed to the fact that Iran’s Farabi cinema body, which oversees the country’s submission, was directly controlled by the hardline Islamic Republic regime government, which in turn has suppressed freedom of speech and brutally oppressed filmmakers across its 47 years in power. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 May 2026 Of course, no one denouncing the tyranny of the old should forget how many elderly Americans have counted among the most oppressed, and still do. — Samuel Moyn, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026

Verb

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 If the second section presents the diagnosis, then in the footnote to Howl Ginsberg writes a prescription, because if we’re oppressed by a dark faith then the only antidote is a different one. — Literary Hub, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for oppressed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressed

Verb

The housing market has been depressed by high mortgage rates.

— Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The housing market has been depressed by high mortgage rates,.

— Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of depressed

Verb

Reflecting on her journey, Jones told me last year that her best career advice is to stay open to new experiences and not get overwhelmed by distant goals.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
My mother was never one for parting phrases, mainly because she was overwhelmed by a form of timidity that verged on self-erasure.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of overwhelmed

Verb

Commissioner Patricia O’Brien said that while she was troubled by the errors that led to the situation, ultimately the commission needed to be realistic.

— Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Von Neumann himself helped develop it as a potential remedy for some logical inconsistencies with Hilbert space that troubled him.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of troubled

Verb

King seemed stranded in a faraway world, tortured by a discomfort that no amount of affection could soothe.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Hatami has spearheaded a number of high-profile cases against child abusers in Los Angeles, California, including the murder of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, who was tortured and killed by his mother and her boyfriend.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of tortured

Verb

Joan Rubinger overcame a catastrophic biking accident that left her paralyzed to become an influential pain-relief specialist helping top-tier athletes get back on the field after acute and chronic injuries.

— Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Judith Kreeger overcame gender barriers, work challenges and a surprise career.

— Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of overcame

Verb

Perhaps more than in any other time in recent history, Americans are severely burdened by paperwork.

— Abdullah Shihipar, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
Despite being the wealthiest generation, boomers are still burdened by significant debt, including mortgages, credit cards, and auto loans; borrowing against brokerage accounts and other investments; and personal and business loans.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of burdened

Verb

The very next day, like an anvil falling from the sky, Forte and his collaborators were crushed by the news that Warner Bros, the film’s studio, had decided to shelve the movie for a tax write-off.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026
The Horned Frogs crushed the Tar Heels 48-14 in last year’s season opener at Chapel Hill, ruining the college coaching debut of six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of crushed

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“Oppressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressed. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of oppressed

adjective

verb

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