Definitions for: Oppress


[v] come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority; "The government oppresses political activists"
[v] cause to suffer; "Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union"



Webster (1913) Definition: Op*press", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Oppressed; p. pr. &
vb. n. Oppressing.] [F. oppresser, LL. oppressare, fr. L.
oppressus, p. p. of opprimere; ob (see Ob-) + premere to
press. See Press.]
1. To impose excessive burdens upon; to overload; hence, to
treat with unjust rigor or with cruelty. --Wyclif.

For thee, oppress[`e]d king, am I cast down. --Shak.

Behold the kings of the earth; how they oppress Thy
chosen ! --Milton.

2. To ravish; to violate. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

3. To put down; to crush out; to suppress. [Obs.]

The mutiny he there hastes to oppress. --Shak.

4. To produce a sensation of weight in (some part of the
body); as, my lungs are oppressed by the damp air; excess
of food oppresses the stomach.

Synonyms: crush, harass, persecute, suppress

See Also: bedevil, crucify, dun, frustrate, haze, keep down, purge, quash, rag, reduce, repress, subdue, subjugate, torment

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