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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repress
The agency was founded in the early 1890s by William Gibbony Baldwin and employed by mining companies in West Virginia and Colorado to repress strikes.
—
Robert Forrant, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
Tensions spiked in 2016 when the government attempted to impose French in English-speaking regions’ schools and courts, igniting protests that security forces violently repressed.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Reforms often required strong executive power, largely at the expense of social stability and democratic legitimacy; protests against the IMF’s programs left scores dead as authorities repressed dissent.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
The Trident and the Times/Herald made public records requests seeking any motions to repress the report.
—Lawrence Mower, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repress
Robert Forrant, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
Tensions spiked in 2016 when the government attempted to impose French in English-speaking regions’ schools and courts, igniting protests that security forces violently repressed.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Reforms often required strong executive power, largely at the expense of social stability and democratic legitimacy; protests against the IMF’s programs left scores dead as authorities repressed dissent.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
The Trident and the Times/Herald made public records requests seeking any motions to repress the report.
—Lawrence Mower, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repress
Verb
-
At scale, the petty-minded bureaucrats implementing an agenda to sanitize American history, and to erase or suppress political dissent, have committed and will continue to commit a great deal of mischief.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Florida Forest Service Senior Forester Michelle Danielson said aerial crews from the Broward Sheriff's Office and the National Guard assisted with water drops to help suppress the fire and protect nearby communities.—
Manuel Bojorquez,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Wednesday was the second time in as many starts that Eovaldi stifled the Yankees.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Over the past several postseasons, more physicality has been allowed, which has stifled some offenses.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Physicist and former director of the Pentagon’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office Sean Kirkpatrick says the files are likely to fuel speculation rather than quell it.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
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But in the wake of discovering the hantavirus aboard the Hondius, health officials and infectious disease experts have been quick—and virtually unanimous—in trying to quell fears.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Verb
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So bad that no transaction based on similar terms, where minnow swallows the whale for a king’s ransom, could happen again, or even be floated, right?—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
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If swallowed, button cell or coin batteries can cause severe internal chemical burns, serious injuries and death, the agency said.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
On the night the Rams drafted Simpson, general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay were uncharacteristically subdued during a news conference.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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What the experts say Hiring has picked up while layoffs remain relatively subdued, with little evidence so far that the Iran war is affecting the labor market.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repress. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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