repression

American  

[ri-presh-uhn] / rɪˈprɛʃ ən /

noun

repressions plural

1. the act of repressing; state of being repressed.

2. Psychology, Psychoanalysis. the rejection from consciousness of painful or disagreeable ideas, memories, feelings, or impulses.

   Freud's approach to interpreting early memories emphasizes what is forgotten through the mechanism of repression.

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repression British  

noun

1. the act or process of repressing or the condition of being repressed

2. psychoanal the subconscious rejection of thoughts and impulses that conflict with conventional standards of conduct See suppression

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonrepression
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• repressions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of repression

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English repressioun, from Medieval Latin repressiōn- (stem of repressiō ), Late Latin: “suppression”; see repress, -ion

Explanation

Repression is a kind of holding back or holding down. There's repression of feelings (willing yourself not to cry), as well as social repression (where the government limits freedom or shuts out certain groups). Repression is like suppression: you restrain, inhibit, or subdue something. Not allowing women to vote is a perfect example of political repression. If you have trouble expressing your feelings and keep things bottled up, then emotional repression is a big part of your personality. People often turn to repression because they're scared of what will happen if they say what's on their mind. Unfortunately, political and emotional repression can often lead to anger and even violence.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

repression repressions

Since then, most of the opposition has been exiled, and nearly a million Nicaraguans have fled the country as repression deepened, most of them to neighboring Costa Rica and the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

A whole generation grew up under repression, economic collapse and came of age hating him, said Narges Bajoghli, associate professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

In the face of deportation fears and political repression, the Los Angeles goth scene provides Latinos an outlet for cultural pride and shameless expression.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

Libya has long faced repression and poverty, both during and after Gaddafi's rule.

From Barron's ● May 26, 2026

I reminded people again and again that the liberation struggle was not a battle against any one group or color, but a fight against a system of repression.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

There is non-fiction, too; histories of the Russian Revolution, of Stalin’s repressions, the fall of communism and of modern Russia’s failed attempts to build democracy.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2024

Human rights advocates worry that more repressions are ahead.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 5, 2024

"We are seeing extremely worrying developments where activists all over the world are experiencing increased repressions just for fighting for our present and our future," the 20-year-old Thunberg said.

From Reuters ● Jun. 22, 2023

“The repressions have destroyed procedural and professional guarantees for lawyers’ activities, resulting in the effective destruction of legal defense in the country.”

From Washington Times ● Jun. 18, 2023

By disparagement, by starvation, by repressions, forced direction, and the stunning hammerblows of conditioning, the free, roving mind is being pursued, roped, blunted, drugged.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• oppression
• suppression