repress
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to keep under control, check, or suppress (desires, feelings, actions, tears, etc.).
- Antonyms:
- foster
-
to keep down or suppress (anything objectionable).
- Antonyms:
- foster
-
to put down or quell (sedition, disorder, etc.).
- Antonyms:
- foster
-
to reduce (persons) to subjection.
- Synonyms:
- crush
- Antonyms:
- foster
-
Psychology, Psychoanalysis. to reject (painful or disagreeable ideas, memories, feelings, or impulses) from the conscious mind.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
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
Related Words
See check 1.
Other Word Forms
- nonrepressible adjective
- nonrepressibleness noun
- nonrepressibly adverb
- overrepress verb (used with object)
- represser noun
- repressible adjective
- unrepressible adjective
Etymology
Origin of repress
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English repressen, from Latin repressus (past participle of reprimere ), equivalent to re- re- + pressus, past participle of premere “to exert steady force against, apply pressure to, press”; press 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This strategy involves the central bank artificially repressing bond yields in the market.
From MarketWatch
Beijing has been accused for years of repressing the Muslim Uyghur minority in the province, which borders Kazakhstan.
From Barron's
Sadi denied accusations that authorities had repressed the demonstrations sparked by Tchiroma's calls, insisting that "there was no disproportionate use of force by law enforcement".
From Barron's
Burkina Faso's military government, which emerged from a September 2022 coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, has regularly been accused of repressing figures the junta considers hostile.
From Barron's
They also exaggerate the fear that is already there, especially in characters repressing their inner demons.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
