oppression Hear it!

oppression Definition

op·pres·sion (ə pres̸hən)

noun

  1. an oppressing or being oppressed
  2. a thing that oppresses
  3. a feeling of being weighed down, as with worries or problems; physical or mental distress

Etymology: OFr < L oppressio

oppression Synonyms

oppression

n.

  1. Organized cruelty

    tyranny, hardness, domination, coercion, dictatorship, fascism, persecution, severity, harshness, subjugation, abusiveness, abuse, subduing, conquering, overthrowing, compulsion, force, forcibleness, torment, military control, martial law; see also cruelty.

    Antonyms freedom*, liberalism*, voluntary control.

  2. Low spirits

    melancholy, weariness, worry; see depression 2, grief 1.

oppression Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • woman: The oppression of women is rooted in class society.
  • minority: Nor can we expect to build a genuine anti-imperialist movement which supports the oppression of a national minority.
  • million: Such democracy as exists is founded on the oppression of millions around the world.
  • nation: We are fellow islanders in a shared democracy, without oppression of one nation by another.
  • people: These financed his wars, palaces and oppression of the Iraqi people.

Possessives

  • woman: Nor did I detect the ' powerful protestations against women's oppression ' suggested by John.

Converse of object

  • resist: This broad scope denies people the right to resist oppression, even to struggle against dictatorship.
  • tolerate: CIS ' Responsible Shareholding program states that it will express serious concern to companies that tolerate oppression.
  • suffer: Proclamation of the Shanghai workers The tyrannical oppression suffered by our people has today reached its highest point.
  • justify: Especially a patriotism that justifies the oppression of others.
  • confront: It remains our duty to do all we can to resolve conflict, confront oppression, reduce poverty and promote good governance.

Adjective modifier

  • brutal: All those 10 new European countries some of them have suffered the most terrible brutal oppression under the old Soviet Union.
  • patriarchal: However, their female characters also identify with animals as the victims of patriarchal oppression, and some of them refuse to eat meat.
  • racial: Race analysis is developed in its ability to explain the subjective dimension of racial oppression.

Noun used with modifier

  • gender: Women's own lives can be seen to articulate both private and public domains of gender oppression.
  • class: The concept of the free market too was understood to be a force of control, an ideological justification of class oppression.
oppression Quotes

  The only time it isn't good for you is when you write or when you fight.You have to do that cold.But it always helps my shooting. Modern life, too, is often a mechanical oppression and liquor is the only mechanical relief. 394

—Hemingway, Ernest Millar

   Every man who comes to England is entitled to the protection of the English law, whatever oppression he may heretofore have suffered, and whatever may be the colour of his skin, whether it is black or whether it is white.

—Mansfield,William Murray, 1st Earl

I may boldly speak In right, though proud oppression will not hear me!

—Otway,Thomas

Browse dictionary entries near oppression

  1. oppressed
  2. oppress
  3. opposition
  4. oppositely
  5. opposite number
  6. opposite
  7. opposing
  8. opposed
  9. oppose
  10. opposable
  1. oppressive
  2. oppressively
  3. opprobrious
  4. opprobrium
  5. oppugn
  6. oppugnant
  7. Ops
  8. opsin
  9. -opsis
  10. opsonic index