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repress Definition

re·press (ri pres′)

transitive verb

  1. to keep down or hold back; restrain to repress a sigh
  2. to put down; subdue
  3. to control so strictly or severely as to prevent the natural development or expression of to repress a child
  4. Psychiatry
    1. to force (ideas, impulses, etc. painful to the conscious mind) into the unconscious
    2. to prevent (unconscious ideas, impulses, etc.) from reaching the level of consciousness

Etymology: ME repressen < L repressus, pp. of reprimere: see re- & press

repress Related Forms
re·press′·ible adjective re·pres′·sive adjective re·pres′·sively adverb re·pres′·sive·ness noun
repress Synonyms

repress

v.

control, curb, check, inhibit; see hinder, restrain 1, suppress.

repress Usage Examples

Object

  • dissent: Actual war economies typically cite a greater public good when they repress dissent and debate.
  • transcription: He further described how loss of hMLH1 expression is associated with methylation of the gene promoter repressing hMLH1 gene transcription.
  • revolt: Finally, internal measure: as we have seen, using troops to repress a revolt always posed a risk of excess.
  • tendency: At another point there's a very faint suggestion that he may be repressing a tendency toward men.
  • emotion: Do you think men feel they must keep their emotions repressed?
  • opposition: For over 20 years he has maintained control by rigging elections and referendums, savagely repressing all opposition and running a tame national media.

Subject

  • society: Australian Ledger produces a brilliant performance as a tormented soul repressed by a homophobic society.

Adjective complement

  • unconscious: Other things we might actively avoid attending to because we find them painful or disturbing - the repressed unconscious.

Modifying Another Word

  • brutally: Saddam Hussein is a vicious dictator who was brutally repressed the Iraqi people.
  • violently: Any attempt to organize was brutally and violently repressed.
  • sexually: He claimed of the Brothers: " They were very sexually repressed.
  • emotionally: The man in was quiet, hard working, and at that time, emotionally repressed.
  • heavily: Brazilâs Workers Party government has been tainted by corruption allegations, and has heavily repressed movements like the Sem Terra, of landless peasants.
  • often: At independence, the winners assured the reins of political power, while the losers were often repressed, imprisoned or silenced.

Preposition: for

  • year: After the later rebellion in support of ' Bonnie Prince Charlie ' in 1745 the area was seriously repressed for some 40 years.

Preposition: by

  • society: Australian Ledger produces a brilliant performance as a tormented soul repressed by a homophobic society.