Meaning
Repress is a verb meaning to hold back, control, or restrain feelings, desires, or actions, often forcefully. It can also mean to put down by force, such as repressing a rebellion.
Grammar and Usage
- Verb (transitive)
- Used for both emotions (psychological) and actions/events (political, social).
Sentence structures:
- "Repress + emotion"
- "Repress + rebellion/protest"
- "Repress oneself"
Common Phrases
- Repress anger
- Repress emotions
- Repress a rebellion
- Repress the urge
- Repress memories
Collocations
- Try to repress
- Be repressed by
- Repress strongly
- Repress systematically
- Politically repressed
Examples
- She tried to repress her laughter during the meeting.
- He repressed his anger to avoid an argument.
- The government used force to repress the uprising.
- Many people repress painful memories of childhood.
- He could not repress the urge to shout.
- The citizens felt politically repressed by the regime.
- She repressed her disappointment with a smile.
- The military moved quickly to repress the rebellion.
Synonyms or Related
- Suppress
- Restrain
- Hold back
- Subdue
- Control
- Quell