Set 164 · Study 1 / 5

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oppress

verb/əˈprɛs/

to keep someone in subservience and hardship by the unjust exercise of authority

The government used its power to oppress the dissenting voices, stifling any chance for political freedom.

suppressrepresssubjugate
word origin — from Latin 'opprimere', meaning to press down

TOEFL Vocabulary — Set 164

Set 164 of TOEFL Vocabulary covers 5 words: oppress, convey, accelerate, adapt, fortify. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. oppress · verb/əˈprɛs/

    to keep someone in subservience and hardship by the unjust exercise of authority

    The government used its power to oppress the dissenting voices, stifling any chance for political freedom.

    Synonyms: suppress, repress, subjugate

    Origin: from Latin 'opprimere', meaning to press down

  2. convey · verb/kənˈveɪ/

    to communicate or make known

    The author uses vivid imagery to convey emotions that resonate with the readers.

    Synonyms: express, communicate, relay

    Origin: Middle English from the Latin 'convehere', which means 'to bring together'

  3. accelerate · verb/əkˈsɛləˌreɪt/

    to increase the speed of something or to cause something to happen sooner

    The new technology will accelerate the development of electric vehicles, making them more accessible to consumers.

    Synonyms: hasten, quicken, speed up

    Origin: from Latin 'accelerare', which means 'to hasten', composed of 'ad-' (to) + 'celer' (swift)

  4. adapt · verb/əˈdæpt/

    to adjust or modify to fit new conditions or circumstances

    As the climate changes, many species must adapt their behaviors to survive in new environments.

    Synonyms: modify, adjust, alter

    Origin: from Latin 'adaptare', meaning 'to fit to' or 'to adjust'

  5. fortify · verb/ˈfɔrtɪfaɪ/

    to strengthen or secure against attack or damage

    The military decided to fortify their defenses along the border to prepare for any possible attacks.

    Synonyms: strengthen, secure, bolster

    Origin: from Middle English fortifien, from Old French fortifier, from Latin fortificare, from fortis meaning 'strong'