oppression

noun

op·pres·sion ə-ˈpre-shən

: unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power

the continuing oppression of the … underclasses

H. A. Daniels

: something that oppresses especially in being an unjust or excessive exercise of power

unfair taxes and other oppressions

: a sense of being weighed down in body or mind : depression

an oppression of spirits

Example Sentences

suffered a lingering oppression in the weeks after his dog died

Recent Examples on the Web Andor looks through the eyes of the unchosen ones — the people who live under the oppression of the Empire, day in and day out.

Sydney Odman, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Nov. 2022 This subjects her to the oppression of her own society and family.

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Nov. 2022 Its government has been accused of a laundry list of human rights abuses, including the exploitation and deaths of migrant construction workers and oppression of women and the LGBTQ+ community.

Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2022 The meeting at an Indonesia resort came as the two countries also spar over what Washington considers to be China’s oppression of dissidents and minorities at home and aggressive push to extend power and influence abroad.

Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2022 But rather than lean into the desperation of the situation, Venegas’ lyrics reflect a feminist angle — resolute and almost defiant in recognizing that the threat of violence is the result of the systemic, unchecked oppression of women.

Andrew Casillas, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2022 In the cases of Nehru and Che and Castro and so on, their sympathies were also lit by a sense of the groaning oppression of their poorer peasant countrymen.

Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2022 Kimia Alizadeh, the only woman from Iran to win an Olympic medal, defected from the country in 2020, citing the regimes’ hypocrisy and oppression of women.

Sanya Mansoor, Time, 21 Oct. 2022 Dozens of people — including several teenagers — have been killed by the country’s security forces while protesting the systemic oppression of women in the country.

Meena Venkataramanan, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oppression.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oppressioun, borrowed from Anglo-French oppression, borrowed from Latin oppressiōn-, oppressiō "action of pressing on or overpowering," from oppres- or *oppret-, variant stem of opprimere "to press on, stifle, overpower" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at oppress

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of oppression was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Oppression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oppression. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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Kids Definition

oppression

noun

op·pres·sion ə-ˈpresh-ən

: cruel or unjust use of authority or power

: a feeling of low spirits

Legal Definition

oppression

noun

op·pres·sion ə-ˈpre-shən

: an unjust or excessive exercise of power: as

: unlawful, wrongful, or corrupt exercise of authority by a public official acting under color of authority that causes a person harm

: dishonest, unfair, wrongful, or burdensome conduct by corporate directors or majority shareholders that entitles minority shareholders to compel involuntary dissolution of the corporation

: inequality of bargaining power resulting in one party's lack of ability to negotiate or exercise meaningful choice see also unconscionability

oppressive

ə-ˈpre-siv

adjective