repressed; repressing; represses
1
2
a
: to hold in by self-control
repressed a laugh
b
: to prevent the natural or normal expression, activity, or development of
repressed her anger
3
: to exclude from consciousness
repressed the memory of abuse
4
: to inactivate (a gene or formation of a gene product) by allosteric combination at a DNA binding site
: to take repressive action
repressively
adverb
repressiveness
noun
re-pressed; re-pressing; re-presses
: to press again
re-press a record
Synonyms
Examples of repress in a Sentence
Verb (1)
Religious groups were severely repressed.
quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order
Recent Examples on the Web
Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2024
Same old story: repress human nature too much and disaster follows.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for repress 
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.
Verb
The protests—the biggest and most violent since the end of the dictatorship—uncapped a well of simmering rage (and were brutally repressed by the Chilean national police).
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2024
Same old story: repress human nature too much and disaster follows.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Verb
Five years later, the album was re-pressed on vinyl.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for repress
Dictionary Entries Near repress
Cite this Entry
“Repress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repress. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
repress
verb
re·press
ri-ˈpres 
1
a
: to check by or as if by pressure
injustice was repressed
b
: to put down by force : subdue
2
a
: to hold in by self-control
repressed a laugh
b
: to prevent the natural or normal expression, activity, or development of
repress one's anger
3
: to shut out of consciousness
repressed a painful past
Medical Definition
repress
transitive verb
re·press
ri-ˈpres
1
: to exclude from consciousness
repress conflicts
2
: to inactivate (a gene or formation of a gene product) by allosteric combination at a DNA binding site
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share