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Definition of repress
transitive verb
1a : to check by or as if by pressure : curb injustice was repressedb : to put down by force : subdue repress a disturbance
2a : to hold in by self-control repressed a laughb : to prevent the natural or normal expression, activity, or development of repressed her anger
3 : to exclude from consciousness repressed the memory of abuse
4 : to inactivate (a gene or formation of a gene product) by allosteric combination at a DNA binding site
intransitive verb
: to take repressive action
repressively
adverbrepressiveness
nounRead the Latest from M-W
Examples of repress in a Sentence
Religious groups were severely repressed.
quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order
Recent Examples of repress from the Web
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Slavery was expensive and borderline inefficient, given the costs of repressing slave revolts.
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Cora is an extraordinary heroine, a woman determined not to let anyone repress her again.
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Cuba’s communist leaders mockingly repressed opposition party leaders and members to the point of almost daring the U.S. to respond.
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All of this happened amid explosive tensions, in a country where security forces have brutally repressed anti-government demonstrations, sometimes in collaboration with armed pro-government groups.
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In the popular imagination, school bathrooms brimmed with pathology and repressed sexuality.
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The threats further distressed and traumatized the man, causing him to repress the sexual assault and intimidating him into silence, the lawsuit states.
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Surprisingly, Barria and other Noriega opponents stopped short of expressing harsh criticism of the former strongman who repressed their demonstrations and forced many into exile.
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But trying to write an inspiring memoir while repressing such thoroughly uninspiring thoughts is a path to madness.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'repress'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of repress
Middle English, from Anglo-French represser, from Latin repressus, past participle of reprimere to check, from re- + premere to press — more at press
REPRESS Defined for English Language Learners
repress
playDefinition of repress for English Language Learners
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: to not allow yourself to do or express (something)
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: to not allow yourself to remember (something, such as an unpleasant event)
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: to control (someone or something) by force
REPRESS Defined for Kids
repress
playDefinition of repress for Students
repressed
;repressing
: to hold in check by or as if by pressure On seeing his haircut, I had to repress a laugh.
Medical Dictionary
repress
playMedical Definition of repress
1: to exclude from consciousness repress conflicts
2: to inactivate (a gene or formation of a gene product) by allosteric combination at a DNA binding site
Learn More about repress
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See words that rhyme with repress Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for repress Spanish Central: Translation of repress Nglish: Translation of repress for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of repress for Arabic speakers
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