Oppress Meaning
/əˈpɹɛs/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo keep down by unjust force.
verbTo make sad or gloomy.
Sentence Examples
Hooray! We have another dreamy, starry-eyed idealist to disenfranchise and oppress!
The law won't let anyone oppress people.
You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The cruel king would ____ his people every month by taking all their food.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Authoritarian regimes often ____ minority groups by restricting their rights and freedoms.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Most mercilesse of women, VVyden hight, / Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse, / And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse."
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The cruel king would ____ his people every month by taking all their food.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Authoritarian regimes often ____ minority groups by restricting their rights and freedoms.