Repress: meaning, definitions and examples

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repress

 

[ rษชหˆprษ›s ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

psychology

To repress means to subdue, restrain, or prevent something from being expressed or coming to the surface. It is a defense mechanism used by the mind to protect itself from thoughts or feelings that are considered unacceptable or distressing.

Synonyms

conceal, inhibit, restrain, suppress.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
repress

Use this word when you need to describe the act of holding back emotions, thoughts, or desires, particularly when this act is unconscious or automatic. It often carries a psychological connotation.

  • She had to repress her feelings of anger during the meeting.
  • Memories from his past were repressed and buried deep within his mind.
inhibit

Use this word to explain preventing or hindering a process, action, or impulse, often in a way that implies a restriction on natural behavior or progress.

  • Anxiety can inhibit someone's ability to speak in public.
  • Certain medications can inhibit the growth of bacteria.
suppress

This term is appropriate when describing the act of forcibly putting an end to something, such as a rebellion, or stopping an emotion, truth, or reaction from being expressed or perceived.

  • The government tried to suppress the uprising.
  • He managed to suppress a smile when he heard the news.
conceal

This word is suitable when you want to describe hiding a physical object or information from others. It implies an intentional act to prevent something from being seen or discovered.

  • He tried to conceal the gift before her birthday.
  • The politician attempted to conceal the scandal from the public.
restrain

This word fits when talking about physically or figuratively holding something or someone back, often implying a degree of force or control. It can refer to controlling behavior or emotions as well.

  • The security guards had to restrain the unruly fan.
  • She was able to restrain her tears during the speech.

Examples of usage

  • She repressed her anger and smiled politely.
  • He repressed his traumatic memories to cope with the pain.
  • They repressed their emotions to avoid conflict.
Context #2 | Verb

society

To repress can also mean to forcefully put an end to something, especially by using authority or power to control or limit its expression or existence. It is often used in the context of human rights violations or political oppression.

Synonyms

control, oppress, quash, suppress.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
repress

Used when talking about pushing down emotions or thoughts, keeping them from surfacing.

  • He tried to repress his anger during the meeting.
  • She had to repress her memories of the accident to move on with her life.
control

Implies maintaining command or regulation over something, including emotions, actions, or situations.

  • She learned to control her anxiety before exams.
  • The manager needs to control the project timeline.
oppress

Often used to describe a situation where a person or group is being treated cruelly or kept down by authority. This word has a negative connotation.

  • The regime continued to oppress its people for decades.
  • Throughout history, many governments have oppressed minority groups.
suppress

Can be used in a variety of contexts to mean stopping something from happening or coming out, often used with emotions, information, or movements.

  • She had to suppress a smile during the serious meeting.
  • The government tried to suppress the news about the scandal.
quash

Typically used in legal or formal contexts to indicate the act of rejecting or voiding something, such as a legal decision or rebellion.

  • The court decided to quash the previous ruling.
  • The government attempted to quash the uprising quickly.

Examples of usage

  • The government repressed the freedom of speech.
  • The dictator repressed any form of dissent.
  • The regime repressed the rights of its citizens.

Translations

Translations of the word "repress" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น reprimir

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฆเคฎเคจ เค•เคฐเคจเคพ (daman karna)

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช unterdrรผcken

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ menekan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟั€ะธะณะฝั–ั‡ัƒะฒะฐั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ tล‚umiฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆŠ‘ๅœงใ™ใ‚‹ (yokuatsu suru)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท rรฉprimer

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ reprimir

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท bastฤฑrmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์–ต์••ํ•˜๋‹ค (eok-ap hada)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู‚ู…ุน (qam')

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ potlaฤit

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ potlaฤiลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้•‡ๅŽ‹ (zhรจnyฤ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zatirati

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ bรฆla niรฐur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะฐััƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒแƒ›แƒแƒšแƒ•แƒ (damalva)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ basdฤฑrmaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ reprimir

Etymology

The word 'repress' comes from the Latin word 'reprimere', which means 'to press back'. It first appeared in English around the 15th century. The concept of repression has been studied extensively in psychology, particularly in the field of psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud. It is a complex process that involves the unconscious mind and has significant implications for mental health and behavior.

See also: depress, express, impress, oppress, press, pressing, pressingly, pressings, pressure, pressuring, repressed.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,379, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.