repression

re·pres·sion

noun \ri-ˈpre-shən\

Definition of REPRESSION

1

a : the action or process of repressing : the state of being repressed <repression of unpopular opinions>

b : an instance of repressing <racial repressions>

2

a : a mental process by which distressing thoughts, memories, or impulses that may give rise to anxiety are excluded from consciousness and left to operate in the unconscious

b : an item so excluded

— re·pres·sion·ist \-sh(ə-)nist\ adjective

Examples of REPRESSION

1. the state's repression of its citizens
2. They survived 60 years of political repression.

First Known Use of REPRESSION

1533

Related to REPRESSION

Synonyms

continence, discipline, discretion, inhibition, refrainment, constraint, reserve, restraint, self-command, self-control, self-restraint, suppression

Antonyms

disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint

Related Words

command, control, mastery, possession; self-censorship, self-containment, self-denial, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, will, willpower; composure, self-poise, self-possession; aloofness, detachedness, distance; bashfulness, modesty, shyness; reticence, silence, taciturnity

Near Antonyms

self-abandonment, uninhibitedness; unrestrainedness; gratification, indulgence, overindulgence, self-indulgence; bluntness, candor, frankness; immoderacy, intemperance

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with REPRESSION

accession, aggression, bull session, compression, concession, confession, depression, digression, discretion, egression, expression, impression, ingression, jam session, obsession, oppression, precession, procession, profession, progression, recession, refreshen, regression, secession, skull session, succession, suppression, transgression

re·pres·sion

noun \ri-ˈpresh-ən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of REPRESSION

1

: the action or process of repressing <gene repression>

2

a : a process by which unacceptable desires or impulses are excluded from consciousness and left to operate in the unconscious—compare suppression c b : an item so excluded