repress - Definition & Meaning | WordLens Dictionary

rep

ress

verb

Third Person

represses

Present Participle

repressing

Past Tense

repressed

Past Participle

repressed

to stop the expression of thoughts, feelings, or actions

transitive

He had to repress his anger when his team lost the game.
He tried to repress the memories of the traumatic event.
The authoritarian regime sought to repress dissent and opposition.
It's important to address and not repress feelings of sadness or grief.
A healthy coping strategy involves acknowledging emotions rather than repressing them.

to suppress a rebellion, protest, or uprising through use of authority or force

transitive

The authoritarian regime represses dissent by silencing opposition voices and censoring the media.
The military junta repressed protests violently, leading to widespread human rights abuses.
The government is currently repressing demonstrations, resulting in a growing backlash from citizens.
Authorities have repressed civil liberties in the region for decades, leading to simmering resentment among the populace.
If the protests continue to escalate, it's likely that the regime will repress them with even greater force.

Synonyms:

to exclude unacceptable desires, thoughts, or memories from the conscious mind

transitive

She represses her painful memories of the accident, refusing to confront them.
He repressed his childhood trauma for years until it resurfaced during therapy.
The stress of the situation has caused her to repress memories of the events leading up to the incident.

Synonyms:

to hold back or prevent something from being expressed, developed, or revealed

transitive