repress

[ ri-pres ]

/ rɪˈprɛs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR repress ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

to initiate or undergo repression.

Nearby words

representation, representational, representationalism, representative, representatives, repress, repressed, represser, repressible enzyme, repression, repressive

Origin of repress

1325–75; Middle English repressen < Latin repressus (past participle of reprimere), equivalent to re- re- + pressus, past participle of primere to press¹

SYNONYMS FOR repress

1 bridle, control.

3 subdue, quash.

4 crush.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR repress ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR repress

1–4 foster.

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Related forms

re·press·i·ble, adjectivenon·re·press·i·ble, adjectivenon·re·press·i·ble·ness, nounnon·re·press·i·bly, adverb

o·ver·re·press, verb (used with object)un·re·press·i·ble, adjective

Can be confused

oppress repress

Synonym study

1. See check¹.

Definition for repress (2 of 2)

re-press

[ ree-pres ]

/ ˈriˈprɛs /

verb (used with or without object)

to press again or anew.

Origin of re-press

First recorded in 1870–75; re- + press¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for repress

Krampus makes manifest the shadow sides of human nature that Christianity seeks to repress.
Meet Krampus, the Seriously Bad Santa|Jay Michaelson|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The deal with the Iranian government will give them a free hand to repress activists and keep political prisoners behind bars.
How America’s Nuclear Deal Sold Out Iran’s Liberals|David Keyes & Ahmad Batebi|December 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Saudi Arabia wanted to establish an Islamic state in Afghanistan and repress Shia (it wants the same in Syria today).
Will Arming Syrian Rebels Lead to Disaster?|Bruce Riedel|June 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Also, expect attempts to repress it by those in power—who stand to directly lose the most.
The Taste of Freedom|Yousef Munayyer|May 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Of course Saddam Hussein tended to repress or kill most of his opponents.
Donald Rumsfeld on What Went Right|John Barry|February 8, 2011|DAILY BEAST
A sharp turn to the left, and Uncle Sid could not repress an exclamation of awed delight at the scene before him.
The Vision of Elijah Berl|Frank Lewis Nason
"Good evening, madam," he says, unable to repress a smile at her manifest astonishment on beholding him there.
A Charming Fellow, Volume I (of 3)|Frances Eleanor Trollope
Each pretended to admire the other with an extravagance of show which made it hard for the bystander to repress doubts and smiles.
Atlantic Monthly,Volume 14, No. 82, August, 1864|Various
A feeling of disappointment it is impossible to repress ensues.
The Church Index|William Pepperell
An Indian learns from childhood to repress all outward evidence of feeling springing either from joy or pain.
The Pioneer Boys on the Mississippi|Harrison Adams

British Dictionary definitions for repress

repress

/ (rɪˈprɛs) /

verb (tr)

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

Derived Forms

represser, nounrepressible, adjective

Word Origin for repress

C14: from Latin reprimere to press back, from re- + premere to press 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for repress

repress

[ rĭ-prĕs′ ]

v.

To hold back by an act of volition.

To exclude something from the conscious mind.