repressed 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈprest How to pronounce repressed (audio)
Definition of repressednext
as in muted
not excessively showy a 19th-century church in the repressed style favored by the strict religious sect

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

repressed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of repress
1
as in suppressed
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order

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2
as in stifled
to refrain from openly showing or uttering you can't repress your feelings forever, so tell her how you feel about her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of repressed
Adjective
Zhang, delivering his first fully Cantonese-language performance on the big screen, portrays a repressed small-time man caught between competing versions of reality. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 June 2026 Grappling with grief Everything – the tough love, the repressed feelings, the cruelty of his father’s illness – is tumbling out of Sanders. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Verb
Even before the war began, hardship and inflation provoked nationwide protests that were brutally repressed. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026 Dispatches Evening Read Cubans’ Despair By Gisela Salim-Peyer Cubans for decades have been buffeted by great powers, repressed by their own government, crushed by economic crises, and paraded as the victims of a succession of sanctions imposed by the White House. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repressed
  1. muted
  2. suppressed
  3. stifled
  4. restrained
  5. quelled
  6. swallowed
  7. subdued
  8. quiet
Adjective
  • Many pre-fall collections, including Stella McCartney and Carven have embraced this approach, pairing a muted or neutral top with color on the bottom.
    — Laurence Goldberg, Vogue, 17 July 2026
  • The universe of the film, as all of Nolan’s worlds are, is one drawn from the muted colors of reluctant determination and it’s structured by a gravity of inexpressible guilt.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
Definition of muted
Verb
  • Trump hadn’t yet declared war on Iran, but the country was roiling with protests, which had been harshly suppressed.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • Chinese exploitation of voter data claims Trump argued that the intelligence community suppressed information about China allegedly accessing 220 million voter files and trying to turn American opinion against him in the run-up to the 2020 election.
    — Justin Fishel, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of suppressed
Verb
  • What’s less arguable is the quality of Kinnear’s performance, a fine study in comic understatement at first that modulates into a delicately limned portrait of pain barely stifled.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
  • While some economists express pessimism about future growth due to diminishing returns, Nobel laureates like Joel Mokyr and Philippe Aghion remain optimistic, arguing new technologies like AI enable exponential progress if innovation isn't stifled.
    — Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of stifled
Adjective
  • Where Heron feels restrained and almost surgical, Hornbill is shaped for users who want more contact with the handle, more leverage through the cut, and a stronger physical presence without moving into oversized tactical-knife territory.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 July 2026
  • Drewchin operates in this more restrained mode throughout the record, peeling back the layers of her dizzying art pop.
    — Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Definition of restrained
Verb
  • Could the temporary seating at BMO Field actually withstand the number of people All those fears were quelled when Toronto put on six memorable matchday experiences, along with raucous watch parties throughout the city.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Burke said Washington left Bedford, confident that the protest had been quelled through his diplomacy.
    — Salena Zito, Washington Post, 1 July 2026
Definition of quelled
Verb
  • Small firms that can’t, or won’t, will get swallowed by larger companies that can.
    — Ethan Karp, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Last year, nearly 20 inches of floodwater swallowed his home.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of swallowed
Adjective
  • Without them, some would feel even bigger, more raw and dramatic, but others — especially in America, where many neutrals came specifically for the spectacle rather than for either team — could feel subdued and forgotten.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Obviously, the talking-points from Kiffin will be interesting to monitor, though the Tigers head coach seems to be more subdued in person compared to his social media presence.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of subdued
Adjective
  • Xavi Simons was born in Amsterdam but grew up in the quiet village of Rojales in Alicante.
    — Jay Harris, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Home Depot is poised to benefit from a quiet home renovation boom, driven by high mortgage rates and aging homes, boasting strong free cash flow and a 238% dividend hike.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of quiet

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Cite this Entry

“Repressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repressed. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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