oppression
noun
op·pres·sion
ə-ˈpre-shən 
1
a
: unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power
the continuing oppression of the … underclasses—
H. A. Daniels
H. A. Daniels
b
: something that oppresses especially in being an unjust or excessive exercise of power
unfair taxes and other oppressions
2
: a sense of being weighed down in body or mind : depression
an oppression of spirits
Synonyms
- blue devils
- blues
- dejection
- depression
- desolation
- despond
- despondence
- despondency
- disconsolateness
- dispiritedness
- doldrums
- dolefulness
- downheartedness
- dreariness
- dumps
- forlornness
- gloom
- gloominess
- glumness
- heartsickness
- joylessness
- melancholy
- miserableness
- mopes
- mournfulness
- sadness
- sorrowfulness
- unhappiness
Examples of oppression in a Sentence
suffered a lingering oppression in the weeks after his dog died
Recent Examples on the Web
Cera will play a naïve rebel who tries to help the desperate man, while Jones is playing a privileged woman blind to the oppression of the government.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Oct. 2024
Additionally, a 2022 study published in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders found that masking is tied to the social oppression of autistic people.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Enslaved people fought daily against this system of oppression.
—Ana Lucia Araujo / Made By History, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
This is the Chinese Communist Party's playbook for political oppression.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oppression 
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.
Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Oct. 2024
Additionally, a 2022 study published in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders found that masking is tied to the social oppression of autistic people.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Enslaved people fought daily against this system of oppression.
—Ana Lucia Araujo / Made By History, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
This is the Chinese Communist Party's playbook for political oppression.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oppression
Dictionary Entries Near oppression
Cite this Entry
“Oppression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oppression. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oppression
noun
op·pres·sion
ə-ˈpresh-ən
1
: cruel or unjust use of authority or power
2
: a feeling of low spirits
Legal Definition
oppression
noun
op·pres·sion
ə-ˈpre-shən
: an unjust or excessive exercise of power: as
a
: unlawful, wrongful, or corrupt exercise of authority by a public official acting under color of authority that causes a person harm
b
: dishonest, unfair, wrongful, or burdensome conduct by corporate directors or majority shareholders that entitles minority shareholders to compel involuntary dissolution of the corporation
c
: inequality of bargaining power resulting in one party's lack of ability to negotiate or exercise meaningful choice see also unconscionability
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share