repress
to keep under control, check, or suppress (desires, feelings, actions, tears, etc.).
to keep down or suppress (anything objectionable).
to put down or quell (sedition, disorder, etc.).
to reduce (persons) to subjection.
Psychology, Psychoanalysis. to reject (painful or disagreeable ideas, memories, feelings, or impulses) from the conscious mind.
to initiate or undergo repression.
Origin of repress
1synonym study For repress
Other words for repress
Opposites for repress
Other words from repress
- re·press·i·ble, adjective
- non·re·press·i·ble, adjective
- non·re·press·i·ble·ness, noun
- non·re·press·i·bly, adverb
- o·ver·re·press, verb (used with object)
- un·re·press·i·ble, adjective
Words that may be confused with repress
- oppress, repress
Words Nearby repress
How to use repress in a sentence
Krampus makes manifest the shadow sides of human nature that Christianity seeks to repress.
The deal with the Iranian government will give them a free hand to repress activists and keep political prisoners behind bars.
How America’s Nuclear Deal Sold Out Iran’s Liberals | David Keyes & Ahmad Batebi | December 3, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTSaudi Arabia wanted to establish an Islamic state in Afghanistan and repress Shia (it wants the same in Syria today).
The Iraqi could barely repress his glee, and did a kind of jig as he walked across the room.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s Lasting Legacy | Christopher Dickey | April 8, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTAlso, expect attempts to repress it by those in power—who stand to directly lose the most.
The Women of England, of whatever rank, studiously avoid peculiarities of dress or manner and repress idiosyncrasies of character.
Glances at Europe | Horace GreeleyGilbert made a great clatter with his knife and fork, to conceal the laugh that he could not repress.
The World Before Them | Susanna MoodieShe did not answer, but her mobile, painted lips quivered, as if she were trying to repress a smile and were not quite succeeding.
Bella Donna | Robert HichensHe had to repress a smile as he followed where the other led him to a gray speedster in a distant corner of the open concourse.
Astounding Stories, May, 1931 | VariousStirling was never addicted to mincing matters, but Weston could not quite repress a grin.
The Gold Trail | Harold Bindloss
British Dictionary definitions for repress
/ (rɪˈprɛs) /
to keep (feelings, etc) under control; suppress or restrain: to repress a desire
to put into a state of subjugation: to repress a people
psychoanal to banish (thoughts and impulses that conflict with conventional standards of conduct) from one's conscious mind
Origin of repress
1Derived forms of repress
- represser, noun
- repressible, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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