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Oppressing: meaning, definitions and examples

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oppressing

 

[ əˈprɛsɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

social issues

Oppressing refers to the act of keeping someone in subservience and hardship, often by the unjust exercise of authority or power. It involves the exercise of power in a burdensome or cruel way, which can lead to severe social and psychological impacts on individuals or groups.

Synonyms

dominate, persecute, subjugate, tyrannize

Examples of usage

  • The government has been oppressing the free press for years.
  • Many people were oppressed under the authoritarian regime.
  • She spoke out against the laws that were oppressing minority groups.

Translations

Translations of the word "oppressing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 oprimindo

🇮🇳 दबाना

🇩🇪 unterdrückend

🇮🇩 menindas

🇺🇦 гноблення

🇵🇱 uciskający

🇯🇵 圧迫している

🇫🇷 oppressif

🇪🇸 oprimente

🇹🇷 baskı yapan

🇰🇷 억압적인

🇸🇦 قمع

🇨🇿 utlačující

🇸🇰 utláčajúci

🇨🇳 压迫的

🇸🇮 zatiralski

🇮🇸 þröng

🇰🇿 басымдық

🇬🇪 დამძიმება

🇦🇿 sıxışdıran

🇲🇽 opresivo

Etymology

The word 'oppressing' originates from the Latin 'opprimere', which means 'to press down'. The prefix 'ob-' means 'against' or 'over', while 'primere' means 'to press'. The term evolved through Middle English and Old French before reaching its modern form. Historically, 'oppressing' has been used to describe various forms of domination, particularly in sociopolitical contexts, where individuals or groups are subjected to undue hardship or tyranny. Over time, it has become associated with movements advocating for human rights and social justice.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,731, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.