Definition

1. 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

1. a feeling of being oppressed
2. the state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority: "after years of oppression they finally revolted"
3. the act of subjugating by cruelty
   • the tyrant's oppression of the people