repress

American  

[ri-pres] / rɪˈprɛs /

verb (used with object)

1. to keep under control, check, or suppress (desires, feelings, actions, tears, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   control, bridle

   Antonyms:

   foster

2. to keep down or suppress (anything objectionable).

   Antonyms:

   foster

3. to put down or quell (sedition, disorder, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   quash, subdue

   Antonyms:

   foster

4. to reduce (persons) to subjection.

   Synonyms:

   crush

   Antonyms:

   foster

5. Psychology, Psychoanalysis. to reject (painful or disagreeable ideas, memories, feelings, or impulses) from the conscious mind.

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verb (used without object)

1. to initiate or undergo repression.

repress British  

/ rɪˈprɛs /

verb

1. to keep (feelings, etc) under control; suppress or restrain

   to repress a desire

2. to put into a state of subjugation

   to repress a people

3. psychoanal to banish (thoughts and impulses that conflict with conventional standards of conduct) from one's conscious mind

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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

Explanation

Whether you're repressing a feeling, an idea or even a revolution, you're almost always going to be taking advantage of the press in repress. To repress something is to "press it down" where it can't be seen, heard or even recognized. Psychologists often try to help people recover memories that they've repressed so that they can feel free of them once and for all. What makes repress different from press is that repress is almost always used when you're talking about an idea, concept or something intangible. In other words, you repress, say, your emotions. You don't repress olives to get olive oil. However, you can repress someone or some group by intimidating them — like repressing the protesters by sending out cops on horseback.

Example Sentences

The character tends to repress her feelings, and her initial reaction to John’s death is stoic and reserved.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

It said it will be sanctioning multiple entities, individuals and vessels to “stem the flow of revenue that the regime in Tehran uses to support terrorism abroad and repress its citizens.”

From MarketWatch • Feb. 6, 2026

He works hard, has high energy, can’t repress his essential nature.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

Still, there are some precedents for attempts to repress them.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2025

Men are never so dishonest that they will repress an ally with such a flagrant display of ingratitude.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

Related Words

• crush
• inhibit
• muffle
• quash
• quell
• restrain
• squelch
• stifle
• subdue
• subjugate
• suppress