as in restraint
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
psychologists talking about the repression of anger and how it affects one's health
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 repression
The war with Ukraine is the unifying factor for the society, and all the attendant repression is basically to minimize antiwar sentiment, and, interestingly enough, to minimize unfettered pro-war sentiment, too.
—
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Human rights groups, citing concerns over forced confessions, have condemned a wave of hundreds of arrests and warned that the government is using the June conflict as a pretext to escalate repression.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Dissident Iranian cinema body IIFMA says the arrangement is misguided given the Islamic Republic regime’s censorship and repression of filmmakers in Iran.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2025
But the line between self-protection and self-repression is thin.
—Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repression
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Human rights groups, citing concerns over forced confessions, have condemned a wave of hundreds of arrests and warned that the government is using the June conflict as a pretext to escalate repression.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Dissident Iranian cinema body IIFMA says the arrangement is misguided given the Islamic Republic regime’s censorship and repression of filmmakers in Iran.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2025
But the line between self-protection and self-repression is thin.
—Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repression
Noun
-
On multiple occasions, Johnson has pointed the blame at those who flee police and credited officers with showing restraint in pursuits.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Those charges include four counts each of counterfeiting−delivery/possession of property and knowingly selling counterfeit, nonfunctional or noncompliant supplemental restraint systems.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Advertisement The Manning brothers' presence as executive producers ensured Chad Powers wasn't just a comedy about rebuilding but a football story rooted in preparation and discipline, down to the accuracy of Powell’s shotgun snaps.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The discipline followed the coaches' backing of Reeve and their vocal criticisms of officials.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
One change that not everyone was happy about is that the new suppression mission will be allowed to work independently of the Haitian police, something the MSS’ mandate did not allow.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Indigenous leaders have accused the government of violent suppression of protests and allowing unchecked mining and oil drilling on ancestral lands.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Maintaining the correct proportion of excitation to inhibition is critical for keeping the brain healthy and harmonious.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Sep. 2025
-
This also supports the idea that swearing can momentarily activate mental states that reduce inhibition and allow the body and mind to perform at a higher level.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Repression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repression. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share