repression

noun re·pres·sion \ ri-ˈpre-shən \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Examples: repression in a Sentence

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

—

repressionist

play \ri-ˈpre-sh(ə-)nist\ adjective

See repression defined for English-language learners

See repression defined for kids

Examples of repression in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of repression from the Web

For me, George Lucas’ original holy trinity is a near perfect symphony of love and loss and intergalactic repression.

— peter rubin, WIRED, "We Really Need to Talk About That Solo: A Star Wars Story Twist," 28 May 2018
Under his power, the repression of human rights activists has intensified.

— karen turner, Vox, "Women who fought to lift the women’s driving ban in Saudi Arabia are getting arrested," 25 May 2018
At that time, social repression begins — of words, thoughts, feelings — and our desire for human connection goes underground.

— brendan tapley, Woman's Day, "10 Things Men Wish Women Knew About Sex," 25 May 2018
The hard grip of repression is all that millions of Iranians have ever known.

— gardiner harris, New York Times, "In Hard-Line Speech, Pompeo Criticizes Iran’s Behavior," 21 May 2018
It's being fueled by the same type of anger and frustrations that fuel anti-government protests around the world: a combination of rising living costs, corruption, repression.

— isaac chotiner, Slate Magazine, "What Is Fueling the Protests in Iran?," 1 Jan. 2018
During a May visit to Texas, several Padres — including Solarte, Chacin, Hector Sanchez, Jose Torres and Luis Torrens — joined their Rangers counterparts in an Instagram video, calling for an end to violence and repression.

— dennis lin, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres players among those speaking out about Venezuelan crisis," 21 July 2017
Cambodia has made its first arrest under a contentious lèse-majesté law that outlaws insulting the country’s monarchy, broadening the already extensive arsenal of repression at the disposal of the state.

— eli meixler, Time, "Cambodia Has Made Its First Arrest Under a Repressive New Law," 15 May 2018
One is silent slavery with all the repression and resentment that that will generate, and the other is outright conflict.

— nina mandell, For The Win, "Who is the controversial professor that Pete Carroll had speak to the Seahawks staff?," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'repression.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of repression

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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repression Synonyms

Other Psychology Terms

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

REPRESSION Defined for English Language Learners

repression

noun

Definition of repression for English Language Learners

: the act of using force to control someone or something
: the state of being controlled by force
: the act of not allowing a memory, feeling, or desire to be expressed

Medical Dictionary

repression

noun re·pres·sion \ ri-ˈpresh-ən \

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