oppress
Rule with cruelty
To oppress is to keep people down through unjust use of power or authority.
Oppression may be violent or subtle—laws that discriminate, systems that exclude, or conditions that deny dignity.
The oppressed lack freedom or opportunity that others enjoy.
Colonial powers oppressed indigenous populations for centuries.
She felt oppressed by her family's expectations.
Control through superior strength
- enslaveForce into bondage
- subjugateBring under dominion
- conquerOvercome by force
- overpowerDefeat by superior force
crush · tyrannize · subordinate · trample · vanquish · master · persecute · exploit
Instill fear to control
- forceStrength or compulsion
- compelForce to act
- bullyHabitual intimidator
- threatenPromise harm or punishment
strong-arm · browbeat · harass · constrain · domineer · persecute · terrorize · menace
Oppressive, absolute governance
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
- autocracyRule by one
fascism · regime · censorship · police state · martial law · surveillance · propaganda · crackdown
Unjust differential treatment
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- injusticeDenial of fair treatment
- racismPrejudice based on ethnicity
- sexismGender-based prejudice
prejudice · bias · marginalization · segregation · apartheid · caste · disenfranchisement · exploitation
dominate
Control through superior strength
overpower · crush · tyrannize · subordinate · trample · vanquish · master · persecute · exploit · colonize
intimidate
Instill fear to control
threaten · strong-arm · browbeat · harass · constrain · domineer · persecute · terrorize · menace · cow
tyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
autocracy · fascism · regime · censorship · police state · martial law · surveillance · propaganda · crackdown · purge
discrimination
Unjust differential treatment
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- injusticeDenial of fair treatment
- racismPrejudice based on ethnicity
sexism · prejudice · bias · marginalization · segregation · apartheid · caste · disenfranchisement · exploitation · colonialism
weigh down
Add heaviness to something
crush · strain · stifle · heaviness · yoke · encumber · bear down · afflict · torment · grind down
- lord it overboss around, bully, intimidate, dominate, tyrannize
- exploitationexploit, predatory, sex trafficking, take advantage, human trafficking
- oppresspersecute, tyrannize, subjugate, dominate, enslave
- burdensburden, load, onus, obligations, weight
- degradebelittle, demean, humiliate, degrade, debase
oppressliberate
Set free from captivity
free · emancipate · release · enfranchise · unshackle
- racial oppressionUnjust treatment by ethnicity
- oppressive heatUnbearably hot conditions
- oppressive regimeHarsh, controlling government
- systemic oppressionInstitutionalized disadvantage of groups
- fleeing oppressionEscaping systematic persecution
oppressed, oppressive, oppression, oppressor, oppressing, oppressively, oppresses, oppressors, oppressions