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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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oppress

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'oppress' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word 'oppress' when describing a situation in which someone or something uses their authority to keep other people down by subjecting them to cruel or unjust treatment. For example: "The dictator oppressed his people, robbing them of basic rights and freedoms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If A gains from the oppressive relationship, as when A enslaves B, then A may both oppress and exploit B. But if A does not gain from the oppression, the oppression is wrong but not exploitative.

Science

SEP

But the defects need to be kept in perspective.One famous critic of democracy claimed that for most people it did nothing more than allow them "once every few years, to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class should be in parliament to represent and oppress them".

News & Media

The Economist

The left can dismiss any Tory leader as bound by tribal instinct to oppress the poor and line the pockets of the top 1%.

In his Letter Concerning Toleration of 1689, John Locke presented a host of reasons why states should stay their hand rather than oppress religious dissenters.

News & Media

The Economist

Narendra Dabholkar argued that black magic and other "fraudulent" spiritual practices were used to oppress the poor.

News & Media

The Economist

But they have yet to push through a UN resolution in the face of Chinese and Russian opposition and, with little appetite for military intervention, seem unable to do more than watch as the regime continues to oppress its population.

News & Media

The Economist

He did not just complain about slavery; he said that whites are continuing to oppress blacks.A recent poll suggests the affair could end up costing Mr Obama votes: 56% of all voters and 44% of Democratic voters said that Mr Wright's comments made them less likely to vote for Mr Obama (though 11% of voters said they made them more likely to vote for him).

News & Media

The Economist

Should they accept President Vladimir Putin's invitation to join the 60th anniversary celebrations, in Moscow on May 9th, of the Soviet victory in the "Great Patriotic War" against Hitler even though it cleared the way for the Soviet Union to occupy and oppress the Baltics for the next 45 years?

News & Media

The Economist

Often, indeed typically, governments have abused capital controls in ways that oppress their citizens and do grave economic harm.

News & Media

The Economist

African leaders wanting to dodge or withdraw from the court were seeking a licence to "kill, maim and oppress their own people" without consequence, he wrote in the New York Times on October 10th.Although most of the court's work has been in Africa, and its sole conviction has been of an African (Thomas Lubanga of Congo), the archbishop rejected the idea that the ICC had an anti-African bias.

News & Media

The Economist

Such is the case across North Africa, where rulers have happily made use of their western supporters' post-September 11th concern with terrorism to oppress their citizens.

News & Media

The Economist
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To strengthen your writing, consider specifying who is doing the oppressing and who is being oppressed.

Common error

Don't use "oppress" without specifying the form of oppression or its consequences. Vague uses can weaken your argument and leave the reader unclear about the issue.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The word "oppress" functions primarily as a transitive verb. It describes the action of subjugating a person or group of people using authority in a cruel and unjust manner. Ludwig examples show usage in various contexts, reflecting its versatile applicability. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "oppress" is a transitive verb used to describe the act of subjugating someone through the cruel and unjust use of power. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It appears frequently in news, encyclopedias, and academic contexts. When writing, it's best to specify who is doing the oppressing and what consequences are inflicted, also you should be aware of synonyms such as "tyrannize" or "subjugate" for more specificity. Usage should aim to clearly convey the sense of injustice and hardship associated with the abuse of power.

FAQs

How can I use "oppress" in a sentence?

You can use "oppress" to describe the act of subjugating a group or individual through unjust or cruel exercise of power, like "The government used its power to "oppress" dissent."

What are some synonyms for "oppress"?

Alternatives to "oppress" include "tyrannize", "subjugate", and "dominate", each carrying slightly different nuances of control and suppression.

What is the difference between "oppress" and "repress"?

"Oppress" typically refers to unjust and cruel exercise of power causing hardship, while "repress" means to restrain or subdue. One might "oppress" a minority group, but "repress" a rebellion.

Is it correct to say someone is "oppressed by" their own thoughts?

While unusual, it can be used metaphorically to describe being overwhelmed or burdened, though it's more common to say someone is "troubled by" or "burdened by" their thoughts.

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Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: