The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word OPPRESS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
O
P
P
R
E
S
S
More clues leading to the result OPPRESS
- Burden of work papers
- Keep down work on all the papers
- Torment journalists after work
- Subdue section of media after work
- Work with fourth estate to subjugate
- Terrifying woman’s repeated power to knock out a grand bully
- Burden quietly accepted by old journalists
- Subdue work by journalists
- Subjugate work by the media
- Tyrannise work force
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Bear down on" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case bear down on = oppress.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does OPPRESS mean?
OPPRESS verb- To keep down by unjust force.
- To make sad or gloomy.
- Physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush.