oppression
/ə'preʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The state of being subjected to unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power: "Oppression" refers to a situation where people are governed or controlled in a harsh, unfair, and often violent way, denying them rights and freedom.
- A feeling of being weighed down, mentally or physically, by distress or hardship: "Oppression" can also describe a psychological state of being burdened, depressed, or overwhelmed.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The people rose up against years of political oppression. (The people rebelled against many years of unfair and cruel government control.)
- She wrote a novel about the oppression of women in that society. (She wrote a novel about the unjust treatment and subjugation of women in that particular society.)
- A feeling of oppression filled the room as they awaited the verdict. (A heavy, burdensome feeling filled the room as they waited for the judgment.)
Advanced Usage
- "The oppression of the poor": A common phrase describing the systematic unjust treatment of people living in poverty.
- The new policies were criticized for contributing to the oppression of the poor.
- "Internalized oppression": A psychological concept where members of an oppressed group come to accept the negative stereotypes and beliefs about their own group.
- Overcoming internalized oppression is a key step in the journey to self-liberation.
Variants and Related Words
- Oppress (verb): To govern or treat people cruelly and unfairly.
- A dictator who oppresses his people.
- Oppressive (adjective):
- Unjustly inflicting hardship and constraint.
- An oppressive regime.
- Weighing heavily on the mind or senses; overwhelming.
- The oppressive summer heat.
- Oppressor (noun): A person or group that oppresses people.
- The rebels fought to overthrow their oppressors.
Synonyms
- Subjugation: The action of bringing someone or something under domination or control.
- Persecution: Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race, political, or religious beliefs.
- Tyranny: Cruel and oppressive government or rule.
- Suppression: The forceful prevention or crushing of something (e.g., dissent).
Related Phrases
- "Under oppression": Living in a state of being oppressed.
- Generations lived and died under oppression.
- "Fight against oppression": To resist or struggle against unjust rule or treatment.
- Their primary goal was to fight against oppression.
Related Idioms
- "The heel of oppression": A literary phrase describing the crushing force of oppressive rule.
- They longed to free themselves from the heel of oppression.
- "Choke/Stifle under oppression": To be unable to develop or breathe freely due to oppressive conditions.
- Creativity often chokes under oppression.
Noun
- a feeling of being oppressed
- the state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority: "after years of oppression they finally revolted"
- the act of subjugating by cruelty
- the tyrant's oppression of the people