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
Relevance
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
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
Lincoln plays John, repressed and raging at his stay-at-home life who moves his family to rural idyll Coldwater.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025
The level of violence used to repress street protesters put the focus on Security Minister Patricia Bullrich and her tactics.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
The course of the show has been allowing these little bursts to come out, and then repressing and repressing.
—Lauren Coates, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
Financial privacy is essential in the context of the military being able to repress dissidents within Myanmar.
—Roger Huang, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repress
John Hopewell, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025
The level of violence used to repress street protesters put the focus on Security Minister Patricia Bullrich and her tactics.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
The course of the show has been allowing these little bursts to come out, and then repressing and repressing.
—Lauren Coates, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
Financial privacy is essential in the context of the military being able to repress dissidents within Myanmar.
—Roger Huang, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repress
Verb
-
But its assertions are characteristic of the Trump administration’s systemic denial of trans lives, and signal further movement by HHS toward policies that seek to suppress trans identities among young people.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
1 May 2025
-
The Empire started mining the planet for energy and suppressing the Ghormans, so the upstart rebels attack a transport ship full of supplies.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
At the time, according to Mark Green, an IRS spokesman, Congress believed deductions for personal interest encouraged people to consume and stifle savings.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
-
The students met regularly and secretly with their professors to study literature, philosophy and theology from the Catholic intellectual tradition, banned by the Nazi regime as part of Hitler’s strategy to first stifle and then strangle the Catholic Church in Germany.—
Peter Nguyen,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The Trump administration has engaged in efforts to quell dissent in corporate America, the civil service, universities and the media.—
Katie Benner,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
-
Seemingly hoping to quell the backlash, the strange fliers seem like an attempt to push back by sowing discord.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
According to Egyptian mythology, Nut swallows the sun god Ra each night and gives birth to him each morning, symbolizing the solar cycle.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
1 May 2025
-
Instead, the officials swallowed their whistles, and Detroit fell 3-1 in the series.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Hundreds of Ghor are killed, stormtroopers patrol the streets, and KX-series security droids are unleashed like hulking monsters, subduing random humans to death.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
7 May 2025
-
Nichols fled after being pulled from his car and was later subdued and struck repeatedly with fists, boots, a Taser and a baton.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Repress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repress. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share