repression

noun

re·​pres·​sion ri-ˈpre-shən How to pronounce repression (audio)
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 adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For Black Americans, the history of repression of education runs even deeper. Karida L. Brown, Essence, 21 May 2025 After 2012, when Putin returned to the presidency, the Kremlin began tightening its grip on Russia’s elites, embracing an archaic militarism, and widening its repression of civil society. Andrei Yakovlev, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025 The sanctions were escalated to punish the regime of Bashar al-Assad for its violent repression of people during the Syrian civil war. Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025 Under its autocratic president, Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan government has gone through periods of intense repression followed by limited concessions to the opposition, often made when the authorities are hoping to gain something by appearing to ease up on the population. Genevieve Glatsky, New York Times, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for repression

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of repression was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Repression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repression. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

repression

noun
re·​pres·​sion ri-ˈpresh-ən How to pronounce repression (audio)
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 How to pronounce repression (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on repression

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