Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for repress on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
verb (used without object) to initiate or undergo repression . Show More
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 Related forms re·press·i·ble , adjective non·re·press·i·ble , adjective non·re·press·i·ble·ness , noun non·re·press·i·bly , adverb o·ver·re·press , verb (used with object) un·re·press·i·ble , adjective verb (used with or without object) to press again or anew. Show More
Origin of re-press First recorded in
1870–75; re- +
press1 Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for repress inhibit ,
subdue ,
suppress ,
crush ,
quell ,
quash ,
restrain ,
muffle ,
squelch ,
subjugate ,
stifle ,
control ,
hinder ,
kill ,
compose ,
chasten ,
lock ,
smother ,
shush ,
cork Examples 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 older man could not repress a cold smile—it had had more effect than he had hoped.
At the sight of it Frank could not repress an exclamation of astonishment.
She was unable to repress a glance of admiration at me as she moved off.
Struggling to repress my tears, I said no more, but passed out, cut to the heart.
British Dictionary definitions for repress 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 Show More
Derived Forms represser , noun repressible , 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
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Word Origin and History for repress v. 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 .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
To hold back by an act of volition. To exclude something from the conscious mind. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
