Oppress
To exercise cruel or unjust power over others, often by suppressing their rights, freedom, or dignity.
verbOppress
To exercise cruel or unjust power over others, often by suppressing their rights, freedom, or dignity.
verbImagine This
Picture a tyrant standing on a balcony, his boot planted on a crowd, voices muffled and movements controlled as if rights themselves are being pressed down.
Sounds Like
uh-PRESS
Looks Like
Looks like 'op' + 'press' (pressing against) — the word visually combines 'op-' (against) with 'press'.
Remember This
Related words include oppression (the noun), oppressor (the person who oppresses), and related concepts like tyranny and subjugation; from Latin opprimere meaning 'to press down'.
Other Forms
Connect With
oppression, suppress, persecute, tyrannize, subjugate, dominate
Note
Transitive verb: you oppress someone or a group. It is not used intransitively. Common collocations include oppressive regime, political oppression, and oppressed minority.