1. the act of subjugating by cruelty (Freq. 1) - the tyrant's oppression of the people • Syn: subjugation • Derivationally related forms: oppress • Hypernyms: persecution 2. the state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority: "after years of oppression they finally revolted" • Hypernyms: subjugation, subjection • Hyponyms: yoke 3. a feeling of being oppressed • Syn: oppressiveness • Derivationally related forms: oppressive (for: oppressiveness) • Hypernyms: depression • Hyponyms: weight