opprimer

to oppress

verb oh-pree-MEH Rare

Origin: Latin opprimere (to press down)

Usage Note

Opprimer means to subject a group or individual to unjust authority or cruel exercise of power. The related noun oppression and agent noun oppresseur (oppressor) are common in political and social discourse. Do not confuse with primer (to prime/prime coat) or comprimer (to compress); they share the root premere but are distinct.

Examples

"Ce régime opprime ses citoyens depuis des décennies."

Natural Translation

This regime has been oppressing its citizens for decades.

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