pent-up

American  

[pent-uhp] / ˈpɛntˈʌp /

adjective

1. not vented or expressed; held inside; restrained; curbed.

   pent-up emotions;

   pent-up rage.

   Synonyms:

   suppressed, repressed, confined

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pent-up British  

adjective

1. not released; repressed

   pent-up emotions

2. kept unwillingly

   I've been pent up in this office for over a year

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Usage

What does pent-up mean? Pent-up is used to describe something that is repressed or not expressed, such as feelings, as in Tina had a lot of pent-up anger over her parents’ divorce that she did not know how to express.Pent-up also describes something that has not been vented, like a gas, which causes pressure to build, as in Tremors release pent-up energy beneath the earth’s crust.Example: All this pent-up anger is bad for your mental health.

Etymology

Origin of pent-up

First recorded in 1705–15; adjective use of verb phrase pent up

Example Sentences

Gen. Harris, there was no lack of pent-up ambition.

From Los Angeles Times

Advocates gave a “know your rights” workshop and Amalfitano led a piñata bashing, what the store owner called “a communal form of catharsis,” encouraging students to let out pent-up emotions in a safe way.

From Los Angeles Times

Mexican assets have been rocking nonetheless, lifted by the global tide of a weakening dollar and pent-up demand for emerging markets.

From Barron's

Fund managers say inflows still far outweigh redemption requests, reflecting pent-up demand from wealthy individuals, most of whom still don’t own much private-credit.

From The Wall Street Journal

"After a loss when everyone's hurting and when we didn't really get to play, we all have that pent-up frustration and energy," says Jones.

From BBC

Related Words

• repressed
• stifled
• suppressed