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.
- Psychoanalysis. to reject (painful or disagreeable ideas, memories, feelings, or impulses) from the conscious mind.
- to initiate or undergo repression.
Origin of repress
Synonyms for repress
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
Antonyms for repress
re-press
- to press again or anew.
Origin of re-press
Related Words for repress
inhibit, subdue, suppress, crush, quell, quash, restrain, muffle, squelch, subjugate, stifle, control, hinder, kill, compose, chasten, lock, smother, shush, corkExamples from the Web for repress
Contemporary Examples of repress
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.
Saudi Arabia wanted to establish an Islamic state in Afghanistan and repress Shia (it wants the same in Syria today).
Also, expect attempts to repress it by those in power—who stand to directly lose the most.
Of course Saddam Hussein tended to repress or kill most of his opponents.
Historical Examples of repress
She was quite unable to repress a vulgar interest in the menials that served her.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
The older man could not repress a cold smile—it had had more effect than he had hoped.
The Monster MenEdgar Rice Burroughs
At the sight of it Frank could not repress an exclamation of astonishment.
Frank Roscoe's SecretAllen Chapman
She was unable to repress a glance of admiration at me as she moved off.
Ruggles of Red GapHarry Leon Wilson
Struggling to repress my tears, I said no more, but passed out, cut to the heart.
The First ViolinJessie Fothergill
repress
- to keep (feelings, etc) under control; suppress or restrainto repress a desire
- to put into a state of subjugationto repress a people
- psychoanal to banish (thoughts and impulses that conflict with conventional standards of conduct) from one's conscious mind
Word Origin for repress
Word Origin and History for repress
late 14c., "to check, restrain," from Latin repressus, past participle of reprimere "hold back, curb," figuratively "check, confine, restrain, refrain," from re- "back" (see re-) + premere "to push" (see press (v.1)).
Used of feelings or desires from late 14c.; in the purely psychological sense, it represents German verdrängen (Freud, 1893), first attested 1904 (implied in repressed). Meaning "to put down" (a rebellion, etc.) is from late 15c. Related: Repressed; repressing.
repress
(rĭ-prĕs′)- To hold back by an act of volition.
- To exclude something from the conscious mind.