Master confusing words with ease
Repress vs. Oppress
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:
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:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Repress starts with re, think of this as restrain emotions internally.
- Oppress is about applying pressure from outside, often linked with people in power.
- Repress deals more with inner emotions or urges, while oppress is about external control or cruelty.
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