oppress
To keep down by unjust forceTo keep down by unjust force.
» The government oppressed the people.
Die Regierung unterdrückte das Volk.
Правительство угнетало народ.
Уряд пригнічував народ.
Meaning
4 senses(transitive)To keep down by unjust force.
The rural poor were oppressed by the land-owners.
come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
(transitive)To make sad or gloomy.
We were oppressed by the constant grey skies.
(obsolete, transitive)Physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush.
(obsolete, transitive)To sexually violate; to rape.
Examples
61 sentencesThe government oppressed the people.
Уряд пригнічував народ.
ruПравительство угнетало народ.
deDie Regierung unterdrückte das Volk.
The country oppresses its linguistic minorities.
Why do you oppress your employees?
deWarum unterdrücken Sie Ihre Mitarbeiter?
It's easy to oppress the innocent.
They were oppressed from all sides.
ruИх притесняли со всех сторон.
Origin
From Middle English oppressen, from Old French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressare (From Middle English oppressen, from Old French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressare (“to press against, oppress”), frequentative of Latin opprimere, past participle oppressus (“to press against, press together, oppress”), from ob (“against”) + premere, past participle pressus (“to press”); see press.
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Forms
oppresses, oppressing, oppressed, oppressedSynonyms
55 synonymsWord family
5 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle