v. 25B6; verb
the invaders oppressed the people : PERSECUTE, abuse, maltreat, ill-treat, tyrannize, crush, repress, suppress, subjugate, subdue, keep down, grind down, rule with a rod of iron, ride roughshod over.
the gloom oppressed her : DEPRESS, make gloomy/despondent, weigh down, weigh heavily on, cast down, dampen someone's spirits, dispirit, dishearten, discourage, sadden, get down; archaic deject.