repress

[ri-pres]

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.

verb (used without object)

1. to initiate or undergo repression.

repress

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• repressible adjective
• nonrepressible adjective
• nonrepressibleness noun
• nonrepressibly adverb
• overrepress verb (used with object)
• unrepressible adjective
• represser noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of repress¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of repress¹

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

Synonym Study

See check ¹.

Example Sentences

In this respect “I Know This Much Is True” also is a dramatic tapestry of destructive anger issues, festering under a lifetime of repressed resentment and confusion.

From Salon

Authoritarians love the death penalty, and have long used it to repress not crime, but dissent.

From Los Angeles Times

In 1965, Stamp starred in an adaptation of the John Fowles novel The Collector, as the repressed Frederick Clegg who kidnaps a girl and imprisons her in his cellar.

From BBC

Maduro - who is leader of the United Socialist Party and succeeded Hugo Chavez in 2013 - has been repeatedly accused of repressing opposition groups and silencing dissent in Venezuela, including with the use of violence.

From BBC

“We are the battleground state for seeing how far we can suppress the vote, oppress the vote, repress the vote.”

From Salon

Related Words

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