Master confusing words with ease
Oppress vs. Repress
Oppress
/əˈpres/Examples:
The tyrant sought to oppress the people with harsh laws.They felt oppressed by the endless workload at the office.Many activists work to prevent governments from oppressing citizens.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Repress
/rɪˈpres/Examples:
The government sought to repress dissent among the citizens.He repressed his urge to laugh during the serious meeting.Memories of that day were deeply repressed in her mind.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Repress usually involves self-control or subduing something within oneself, while oppress typically involves external pressure or control.
- One can repress emotions, keeping them inside, whereas a government might oppress people, holding them down.
- If you memorize that repress has the prefix re- like in rebound, you can remember it's about controlling again or holding back.
- Oppression often deals with power dynamics and typically has a negative connotation of one group exerting authority over another.
- Repress has more to do with individual or internal factors, while oppress relates to societal or external factors.
© 2025 Lithium Lab Pte Ltd