oppress
gb/əpɹˈɛs/ us/əpɹˈɛs/
C1
English
~ 8100
elnyom, nyomaszt
VERB
C1
FORMAL
1
elnyom
B2
Usage pattern:
to oppress [someone / a group of people]
The dictatorship used the army to oppress political opponents.
A diktatúra a hadsereget használta arra, hogy elnyomja a politikai ellenfeleket.
For generations, the government has oppressed this minority group through discriminatory laws.
A kormány nemzedékeken át diszkriminatív törvényekkel nyomta el ezt a kisebbségi csoportot.
Workers claimed that the new regulations would further oppress low‑income families.
Colonial powers often oppressed local populations to maintain control over resources.
They organized a march to protest laws that oppress women and girls.
Learner examples
The king used his power to oppress the people.
A király a hatalmát arra használta, hogy elnyomja a népet.
The law was used to oppress anyone who spoke against the leader.
A törvényt arra használták, hogy elnyomják mindazokat, akik a vezető ellen szólaltak fel.
In the past, many countries oppressed women and did not let them vote.
The group fights for the rights of people who are oppressed by their government.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "oppress" when they only mean someone is sad or stressed. "Oppress" in this sense usually involves power, control, and unfair treatment of a person or group by an authority or system. For simple sadness, "upset" or "sad" is more natural. It is also often confused with "suppress": governments may suppress protests (stop them) and oppress people (treat them cruelly and deny rights).
Meaning
treat people cruelly and unjustly
Collocations
oppress minorities
|oppress women
|oppress the poor
|systematically oppress
|politically oppress
|a regime oppresses
Synonyms
persecute (Focuses on repeated cruel treatment, often for religious, political, or ethnic reasons.)
|
subjugate (Stresses bringing people under complete control or domination, often after conflict or conquest.)
|
tyrannize (Emphasizes harsh, cruel use of power by a ruler or authority over others.)
Antonyms
liberate (Focuses on freeing people from control or oppression.)
|
empower (Stresses giving people power, rights, or confidence instead of limiting them.)
|
protect (Emphasizes keeping people safe from harm or unfair treatment rather than causing it.)
Themes
politics
|society
|law
|human rights
|relationships
Definition
To use power to treat people in a very unfair and hard way, so they are not free and do not have equal rights.
To control people in a cruel and unfair way, often using power or authority to limit their freedom, rights, or opportunities.
VERB
C2
FORMAL
2
nyomaszt
B2
Usage pattern:
to oppress [someone's mind / spirit]; to feel oppressed by [something]
He felt oppressed by a constant sense of failure.
Az állandó kudarcérzés nyomasztotta.
The dark, low ceiling seemed to oppress everyone in the room.
A sötét, alacsony mennyezet mintha mindenkit nyomasztott volna a szobában.
Memories of the accident still oppress her, even years later.
The silence between them grew heavy and began to oppress him.
A deep fear of the future oppressed their thoughts day and night.
Learner examples
She feels oppressed by her many problems.
A sok problémája nyomasztja.
The small, dark room started to oppress him.
A kis, sötét szoba kezdte nyomasztani.
His guilt oppresses him every time he thinks about the past.
The bad news oppressed their hearts and they became quiet.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix this sense with "depress" and say *"The room oppresses me"* when they more naturally mean "The room depresses me" or "The room makes me feel bad." "Oppress" suggests a stronger, heavier feeling, often with a sense of pressure or being pushed down, and is less common in everyday conversation.
Meaning
make someone feel heavy or distressed
Collocations
feel oppressed by
|oppress the mind
|oppress the spirit
|oppress the heart
|oppress with guilt
Synonyms
weigh down (Very close in meaning; common in everyday speech, often used with emotions or responsibilities.)
|
burden (Focuses on giving someone a heavy responsibility, duty, or emotional load.)
|
overwhelm (Stresses being covered or flooded by strong feelings or problems.)
Antonyms
relieve (Means to make pain, worry, or pressure less strong.)
|
uplift (Emphasizes making someone feel happier or more hopeful instead of heavy and sad.)
|
comfort (Focuses on making someone feel calmer and less troubled.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|literary
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a person feel very heavy in their mind or heart, worried, or without hope.
To make someone feel emotionally or mentally weighed down, sad, or uncomfortable, as if under a heavy pressure.
Grammar
Dictionary form
oppress
IPA
GB/əpɹˈɛs/
US/əpɹˈɛs/
Syllables & stress
op - press (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (press)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: oppress
- 3rd Person Singular: oppresses
- Present Participle: oppressing
- Past: oppressed
Word family
Forms
oppresses
verb
oppressing
verb
oppressed
verb
Core family
Related words
oppressively
adverb
Advanced or less common
oppressiveness
noun
Expressions
feel oppressed
1/fˈil əpɹˈɛst/
fixed phrase
experience a heavy, pressured feeling
To have a strong feeling that something is holding you down or not letting you be free or relaxed.
Examples
- She said she felt oppressed by her family's expectations.
- Many employees feel oppressed by the constant pressure to work overtime.
the oppressed
1/ðə əpɹˈɛst/
fixed phrase
formal
people who are oppressed
People who are kept down and treated very unfairly by those with power.
Examples
- The new movement claims to speak for the oppressed.
- History books often ignore the voices of the oppressed.