oppression
unjust control of a group
A situation where people with power treat a group badly and do not allow them normal rights or freedom.
oppression of [a group] by [a person/group/state]
- They fled the country to escape political oppression and seek asylum abroad.
- Activists are organizing to challenge the oppression of ethnic minorities in the region.
- Laws were passed to end centuries of oppression against Indigenous communities.
- The report exposed the economic oppression of workers in the factory.
- Her research focuses on how different forms of oppression intersect, such as racism and sexism.
- Many people left the country because of government oppression.
- The new law helped reduce the oppression of poor workers.
- They spoke about the long history of oppression of women in that society.
- He joined the group to fight oppression and support human rights.
personal feeling of being controlled
The feeling that someone with power is holding you down and not letting you live or choose freely.
oppression in/at [a place or situation]
- She described a constant oppression at home, where every decision had to be approved by her father.
- Many workers spoke about the quiet oppression they felt in the office, afraid to disagree with their boss.
- He left the company because of the oppression created by strict rules and constant monitoring.
- The novel explores the subtle oppression experienced by the main character in her marriage.
- Students protested what they saw as oppression on campus, including surveillance and strict speech codes.
- He felt oppression at work because he was always watched.
- The woman talked about the oppression she felt in her marriage.
- Some students said there was oppression at their school.
- They moved to the city to escape the oppression in their village.
heavy, depressing emotional atmosphere
A strong, heavy feeling of sadness or worry in a place or situation.
oppression of [time/place/silence]
- An oppression settled over the room as they waited for the verdict.
- She remembered the quiet oppression of those long winter afternoons.
- Despite the sunshine, there was an oppression in the air after the accident.
- The film captures the slow oppression that builds in the town after the disaster.
- He could feel the oppression of silence as no one dared to speak.
- There was a feeling of oppression in the room after the bad news.
- He did not like the oppression of the long, dark winter.
- An oppression came over the group when they heard the report.
- The silence in the house gave her a sense of oppression.
physical tightness or pressure feeling
A feeling that part of your body, usually your chest, is heavy or tight and hard to move or breathe.
oppression in [a body part]
- The patient reported a sudden oppression in the chest during exercise.
- If you feel oppression in your chest and have trouble breathing, seek medical help immediately.
- Her doctor asked whether the oppression was constant or only during physical activity.
- The medication reduced the chest oppression, but further tests were still needed.
- He went to the emergency room because the oppression in his chest kept getting worse.
- She felt oppression in her chest and called the doctor.
- The man went to the hospital because of chest oppression.
- Tell your doctor if you have oppression when you breathe.
- The medicine helped with the oppression in his chest.
- Base: oppression
- Plural: oppression, oppressions
end oppression
1stop oppression completely
To stop oppression so that it does not continue.
- New laws alone will not end oppression without real social change.
- They marched through the city to demand that the government end oppression of minority groups.
escape oppression
1get away from oppression
To leave a place or situation where you are oppressed.
- Her grandparents moved abroad to escape oppression and war.
- Many refugees are trying to escape oppression in their home countries.
fight oppression
1actively oppose oppression
To work, speak, or act in order to stop oppression.
- They formed a group to fight oppression in their community.
- Many young people use social media to fight oppression and injustice.
speak out against oppression
1publicly criticize oppression
To say clearly and publicly that oppression is wrong.
- The writer used her platform to speak out against oppression.
- People are less afraid now to speak out against oppression by the police.
systems of oppression
1social structures that cause oppression
Patterns and structures in a society, like laws and customs, that keep some groups in power and harm other groups.
- The course examines how systems of oppression are built into laws and institutions.
- They discussed how different systems of oppression, such as racism and sexism, can work together.