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Oppress vs Inhibit - What's the difference?

oppress | inhibit |

As verbs the difference between oppress and inhibit

is that oppress is (obsolete) physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush while inhibit is to hinder; to restrain.

oppress

English

Verb

(es)
  • (obsolete) Physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush.
  • * , II.x:
  • Most mercilesse of women, VVyden hight, / Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse , / And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse.
  • To keep down by force
  • The rural poor were oppressed by the land-owners.
  • To make sad or gloomy
  • We were oppressed by the constant grey skies.

    inhibit

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to hinder; to restrain
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * disinhibit * disinhibition * inhibition