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repress

verb

ri-ˈpres How to pronounce repress (audio)
Definition of repressnext
1
as in to suppress
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stifle
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 repress Catherine is taking her anger out on those who hurt her, while Nora and Alice are both attempting to repress all of their fury. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 Hole’s first three albums—Pretty on the Inside, Live Through This, and Celebrity Skin—are being repressed in various vinyl styles for release on September 18. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026 When elites are strong, dictators need to accommodate them, often by repressing outsiders to shield insiders from potential challenges. — José Kaire, The Conversation, 17 July 2026 The government of husband-and-wife copresidents, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, has been carrying out an all-out crackdown on dissent since mass social protests in 2018 that the government violently repressed. — ABC News, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for repress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repress
  1. suppress
  2. stifle
  3. quell
  4. swallow
  5. subdue
Verb
  • Other immune-suppressing medicines for serious systemic disease can include CellCept (mycophenolate), Azasan (azathioprine), or cyclophosphamide.
    — Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2026
  • GLP-1s suppress appetite, which can be too effective in some patients.
    — Korin Miller, Allure, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of suppress
Verb
  • With technology advancing quickly, regulators are trying to keep up while also facing pressure not to stifle innovation.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The senator, who has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing AI safety risks, stressed that any new regulation should be targeted and sensitive to concerns about stifling global competitiveness.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of stifle
Verb
  • The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time since 2023 in an effort to quell stubbornly-high inflation and the central bank also signaled that another rate hike could occur later this year.
    — DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFFFROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • After just one win in four league games (their other victory came against Champions League minnows Sabah), there needed to be a performance here to quell the pressure starting to build.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of quell
Verb
  • The play was blown up by Ojomo, who spun off the block of Washington center Nick Allegretti and swallowed Bates behind the line of scrimmage.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
  • The thought of Margaret trapped in the skyscraper, swallowed up by flames and heat, is an overwhelming load for a mother to carry.
    — Nicole Avery Nichols, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of swallow
Verb
  • As the President sat down to eat with the press corps, a would-be assassin stormed through a security checkpoint before being subdued by the Secret Service.
    — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
  • According to Tisch, Cisneros then waved her knives and began to advance on the officers, who attempted to subdue the woman with a Taser before employing lethal force.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of subdue

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represents
repress
repressed
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Cite this Entry

“Repress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repress. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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