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

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

Examples of oppression in a Sentence

suffered a lingering oppression in the weeks after his dog died

Recent Examples on the Web

Corbet has made a fetish of ambition — the actor-turned-director’s own attempt at grandiloquent filmmaking and the ambition of his protagonist Laszlo Toth (Adrien Brody), a refugee from Nazi oppression. —Armond White, National Review, 3 Jan. 2025

After Clone Force 99 debuted in the final season of The Clone Wars and their spinoff show was rapidly announced, expectations weren't super high for yet another on-screen story about the Galactic Empire's reign of terror and oppression, an overdone point in the Star Wars timeline. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 28 Dec. 2024

This powerful retelling shifts the focus from Huck’s youthful adventures to Jim’s profound quest for freedom and family, offering a poignant exploration of identity, agency, and survival in a society built on systemic oppression. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 20 Dec. 2024

The mounting oppression and untreated psychosis come together to tell the origin story of a haunted house. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024

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-ˈpresh-ən 

1

: cruel or unjust use of authority or power

2

: a feeling of low spirits

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

oppressive

ə-ˈpre-siv 

adjective