repression

noun

re·​pres·​sion ri-ˈpre-shən 

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

repressionist

ri-ˈpre-sh(ə-)nist 

adjective

Synonyms

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

Examples of repression in a Sentence

the state's repression of its citizens

They survived 60 years of political repression.

Recent Examples on the Web

Under the dictator Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus has often served as a testing ground for methods of repression. —Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 July 2024

Violent extremists are usually described as neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and Islamophobes without reference to the central role that control of, repression of, and violence against women play in their worldviews. —Linda Robinson, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2024

The American stuck to climate change and state-level initiatives during the Hong Kong leg of his trip — despite calls from US senators to condemn Beijing’s repression of human rights in the city. —Jason Ma, Fortune Asia, 2 July 2024

Traveling to Saudi Arabia didn’t change her awareness of the country’s repression of speech and criminalization of homosexuality. —Chelsea Leu, The Atlantic, 30 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

repression

noun

re·​pres·​sion ri-ˈpresh-ən 

1

: the act of repressing : the state of being repressed

2

: a process of the mind by which painful or disturbing thoughts or desires are kept from conscious awareness

Medical Definition

repression

noun

re·​pres·​sion ri-ˈpresh-ən 

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 sense c

b

: an item so excluded