'oppress' definitions:

Definition of 'oppress'

(from WordNet)
verb
Come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority; "The government oppresses political activists" [syn: oppress, suppress, crush]
verb
Cause to suffer; "Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union" [syn: persecute, oppress]

Synonyms of 'oppress'

From: Moby Thesaurus