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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in depressed
to make sad
this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oppressed
Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Alper used his speech to express solidarity with oppressed people everywhere.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026
David Frum, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
She was oppressed by his big shadow.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Adjective
Trump may hope that Americans will rally behind a campaign to rid the world of a bloody terrorist regime and give an oppressed people a chance at freedom.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Alper used his speech to express solidarity with oppressed people everywhere.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Iranian regime has oppressed, humiliated, and murdered its people.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
She was oppressed by his big shadow.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oppressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppressed
Verb
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The machine worked by reading music that was encoded by holes punched into rolls of paper, which in turn directed airflows to levers that depressed piano keys.—
Adam Ozimek,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Democrats who still believe in the New Deal-era promise of government helping the public are a bit depressed by the idea that the solution to their party’s problems is generating less money for that purpose.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lauersdorf said in a text message he was overwhelmed by the community support from friends, neighbors and complete strangers.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
-
But the measure backfired when municipalities’ collection sites were overwhelmed, leading to stockpiles of unused textiles, and the government reversed part of the rule in October.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Labor historian James Green noted that of all the violence against workers at the time, none shocked the nation or troubled its collective conscience more than the Ludlow massacre because of the deaths of children.—
Robert Forrant,
The Conversation,
20 Apr. 2026
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The second scenario which had troubled Democrats earlier this Spring is that the Democratic candidates continue splitting the vote, allowing Hilton and Republican Chad Bianco to advance.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Two young Alabama siblings are dead following an early morning crash, leaving their mother devastated at the sudden loss.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
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Celeste’s family was overwhelmed and devastated to hear details of the allegations against d4vd during his arraignment on Monday, their attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, told CNN.—
Andi Babineau,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Higgins was tortured, interrogated and then was murdered.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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After the coup — in the story and in reality — opponents, civilians and those deemed suspicious were regularly kidnapped and tortured.—
Laura Zornosa,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Trojans overcame a 9-8 third-quarter deficit to gain a repeat visit to the final.—
Glae Thien,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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The Michael Jackson movie overcame poor reviews and production problems to achieve a record-breaking opening weekend at the box office.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Given the extreme amount of growth and change the state has experienced, our schools are burdened by an arbitrary cap set more than a quarter-century ago.—
Kevin Vick,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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The nonprofit Miami Housing for All has estimated the county needs around 90,000 additional affordable housing units to close the gap, and census data shows nearly 60% of renters in the Greater Miami area are rent burdened.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Additional details shared via Reuters claimed the worker’s lower limbs were crushed in the collapse.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2026
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Carlos Correa proved to be his toughest matchup of the day, as the Astros’ shortstop crushed a bases-empty blast off the southpaw in the sixth inning to tie the game at two.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oppressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppressed. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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