oppression

This term describes a crushing weight, whether exerted by a governing body or felt internally as a psychological burden. When used politically, it implies a systemic, institutionalized exercise of power designed to keep a specific group subordinate through fear or force. In a psychological sense, the word evokes a feeling of suffocation or an inescapable heaviness. It differs from simple sadness or stress by suggesting a persistent, overwhelming pressure that restricts one's ability to breathe or act freely.