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
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
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Critics, though, have argued that these efforts are serving to distract from the country’s record of repressing free speech and dissent, as well as human rights violations, which have been widely reported.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for repress
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Verb
This week is pushing you to speak up and stop repressing your truth.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Critics, though, have argued that these efforts are serving to distract from the country’s record of repressing free speech and dissent, as well as human rights violations, which have been widely reported.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Five years later, the album was re-pressed on vinyl.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for repress
Cite this Entry
“Repress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repress. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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
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