oppressverb
uk/əˈpres/us/əˈpres/oppress verb (RULE)
[ T often passive ] to govern people in an unfair and cruel way and prevent them from having opportunities and freedom:
For years now, the people have been oppressed by a ruthless dictator.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Ruling & governing
- absolute
- administration
- affairs of state
- ascend
- ascend the throne idiom
- Comintern
- corridor
- government-chartered
- government-owned
- government-sponsored
- governmental
- hung parliament
- officially
- oppressive
- reign
- repress
- repression
- repressive
- sovereignty
- statecraft
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oppress verb (MAKE UNCOMFORTABLE)
[ T ] to make a person feel uncomfortable or worried, and sometimes ill:
Strange dreams and nightmares oppressed him.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Causing anxiety and worry
- alarming
- bite
- catch up with sb
- come back to bite sb idiom
- come back/home to roost idiom
- flap
- frighten sb/sth away/off
- get/go beyond a joke idiom
- give sb the jitters idiom
- gnaw
- harass
- joke
- sweat
- tense
- troubling
- unnerve
- unsettling
- weigh
- weigh on sb/sth
- weigh sb down
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