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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
suffered a lingering oppression in the weeks after his dog died
Recent Examples on the Web Occupation causes oppression towards women, towards children, towards the environment, etc. Nadeem Muaddi, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 Computer scientists at Michigan State University contributed to facial recognition technology used for ethnic oppression in Xinjiang. Yangyang Cheng, Wired, 24 Feb. 2022 Sirhan acted alone, having apparently become obsessively fixated by a delusion that Kennedy himself was chiefly responsible for Palestinian oppression. Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 23 Jan. 2022 The measure is aimed at punishing China for the alleged oppression of the Uyghur Muslims. Daniel Flatley, Bloomberg.com, 14 Dec. 2021 Reckoning with one’s position in interwoven systems of oppression is a daunting and deeply unsettling task. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 It’s the former president who issues statements on social media and through email blasts that are mostly exclamation points periodically interrupted with all-caps bleats of oppression. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 For her, the bill represents another form of oppression for women of color. Arika Herron, The Indianapolis Star, 28 July 2022 Instead, this is a call for a panoramic view into the structural underpinnings of the use of religion as a tool of oppression. Clay Cane, CNN, 21 July 2022 See More
Nadeem Muaddi, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 Computer scientists at Michigan State University contributed to facial recognition technology used for ethnic oppression in Xinjiang. Yangyang Cheng, Wired, 24 Feb. 2022 Sirhan acted alone, having apparently become obsessively fixated by a delusion that Kennedy himself was chiefly responsible for Palestinian oppression. Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 23 Jan. 2022 The measure is aimed at punishing China for the alleged oppression of the Uyghur Muslims. Daniel Flatley, Bloomberg.com, 14 Dec. 2021 Reckoning with one’s position in interwoven systems of oppression is a daunting and deeply unsettling task. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 It’s the former president who issues statements on social media and through email blasts that are mostly exclamation points periodically interrupted with all-caps bleats of oppression. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 For her, the bill represents another form of oppression for women of color. Arika Herron, The Indianapolis Star, 28 July 2022 Instead, this is a call for a panoramic view into the structural underpinnings of the use of religion as a tool of oppression. Clay Cane, CNN, 21 July 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
oppression
noun
op·pres·sion ə-ˈpre-shən
: cruel or unjust use of power or authority
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
oppression
noun
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits suffered a lingering oppression in the weeks after his dog died Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sadness
- sorrowfulness
- depression
- melancholy
- sorrow
- mournfulness
- anguish
- misery
- grief
- unhappiness
- gloom
- joylessness
- dejection
- despair
- dreariness
- agony
- miserableness
- heartsickness
- desperation
- gloominess
- pain
- blues
- disconsolateness
- mourning
- downheartedness
- glumness
- blue devils
- forlornness
- dispiritedness
- boredom
- distress
- despondency
- despondence
- desolation
- dumps
- dolefulness
- mopes
- discouragement
- doldrums
- hopelessness
- wretchedness
- melancholia
- despond
- regret
- disheartenment
- somberness
- woe
- ennui
- dolor
- self-pity
- woefulness
- tedium
- moroseness
- morbidness
- moodiness
- morosity
- dismalness
- drear
- self-despair
- rue
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joy
- intoxication
- happiness
- exultation
- ecstasy
- elation
- jubilation
- joyousness
- exhilaration
- joyfulness
- euphoria
- bliss
- gayness
- rapture
- gladness
- mirth
- heaven
- felicity
- exuberance
- glee
- contentment
- gaiety
- gayety
- elatedness
- humor
- hopefulness
- rapturousness
- optimism
- joviality
- satisfaction
- blissfulness
- merriment
- cheerfulness
- lightheartedness
- jollity
- mirthfulness
- gladsomeness
- gleefulness
- contentedness
- cheeriness
- content
- cheer
- gratification
- delight
- sunniness