repress

verb (1)

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re·press | \ ri-ˈpres

repressed; repressing; represses

Definition of repress

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to check by or as if by pressure : curb injustice was repressed

b : to put down by force : subdue repress a disturbance

2a : to hold in by self-control repressed a laugh

b : 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

re-press

verb (2)

\ (ˌ)rē-ˈpres

re-pressed; re-pressing; re-presses

Definition of re-press (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to press again re-press a record

Other Words from repress Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about repress

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Other Words from repress

Verb (1)

repressibility \ ri-ˌpre-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

repressible \ ri-ˈpre-sə-bəl

\ adjective

repressive \ ri-ˈpre-siv

\ adjective

repressively adverb

repressiveness noun

Examples of repress in a Sentence

Verb (1) Religious groups were severely repressed. quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Reflective sentences in the third person usually obscure or repress something. — New York Times, "Justice for the Negro Leagues Will Mean More Than Just Stats," 23 Mar. 2021 In Soft Voice, a young real estate agent (Naomi Scott) negotiates her life with Soft Voice (Bel Powley) and Dark Voice (Olivia Cooke), two internal forces that influence her to alternately repress her desires and pursue them recklessly. — Emma Specter, Vogue, "Bel Powley, Naomi Scott, and Olivia Cooke’s New Podcast Is a Dark Thriller to Devour on the Go," 18 Mar. 2021 After the war, he was adopted in Switzerland, but both his new parents and his new country, according to Wilkomirski, forced him to repress his trauma. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, "The Identity Hoaxers," 16 Mar. 2021 In Plays Well with Others, New York is the temporary autonomous zone and nobody has to repress much of anything. — Justin Taylor, Harper's Magazine, "Every True Pleasure Is a Secret," 16 Mar. 2021 The military has also sought to repress independent media, suspending the licenses of five outlets and arresting journalists. — Helen Regan And Jessie Yeung, CNN, "Myanmar's military is killing peaceful protesters. Here's what you need to know," 16 Mar. 2021 Though they’re being used to hold the powerful to account today, the argument goes, they could be used to repress minority groups in the future. — Malkia Devich-cyril, Wired, "Banning White Supremacy Isn’t Censorship, It’s Accountability," 31 Jan. 2021 Under the new communist regime, which was built on the promise of creating social equality, religion was banned as it was deemed a bourgeois instrument to repress the working class. — Madeline Roache, Time, "How Soviet Russia Banished Their Version of Santa Claus, Then Brought Him Back to Spread Communist Cheer," 24 Dec. 2020 Many universities, research labs, and companies in countries that value the rule of law and individual rights are witting or unwitting accomplices in the CCP’s use of technology to repress its people and improve PLA capabilities. — H. R. Mcmaster, National Review, "China’s Statist System Is No Match for Free Markets," 24 Sep. 2020

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.