MEANING
The restraint or suppression of feelings, impulses, expression, or dissent.
Use it for
Stifled feelings, oppressive social codes, power controlling speech.Link outward quiet to constraints while keeping psychological claims appropriately cautious.
Words that belong together
- emotional repression
- repression of dissent
- repressive household
On the page
Years of emotional repression made the apology difficult.
The memoir described the repression of dissent within the institution.
Her laughter broke through the household's customary repression.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- repression
Usage notes
Primary category: gothic. Can be personal inhibition, a psychological process, or coercive political suppression; do not casually diagnose an unconscious mechanism. Usually uncountable; plural repressions for distinct acts or processes. Derived adjective repressive.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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