repress
repress Lexical Profile
repress Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To restrain, inhibit, or keep under control (a feeling, desire, or physical reaction).
"She had to bite her lip to repress a sudden urge to laugh during the solemn ceremony."
To subdue or keep down (a person, group, or political movement) by force, authority, or coercion.
"The authoritarian regime sought to repress political dissent through strict censorship and curfews."
To unconsciously exclude (distressing memories, thoughts, or desires) from conscious awareness (in psychology).
"Patients who experience severe childhood trauma sometimes repress the painful memories for decades."
Word Nuance & Usage
In psychology, "repress" denotes unconsciously blocking distressing memories or impulses from awareness, whereas "suppress" refers to consciously and deliberately holding back a thought or emotion.
• Rhymes for repress
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Latin "repressus," the past participle of "reprimere" (to hold back, curb, or check), formed from "re-" (back) and "premere" (to press).