repress
10 synonyms and 1 antonym for repress, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To use force to stop an uprising, protest, or similar unrest from growing.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use repress
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
repress a smile
repress dissent
repress an urge
Etymology
From Latin repressus, the past participle of reprimere, "to press back" — from re- plus premere ("to press").
Full origin of repress →Frequently asked questions
What does “repress” mean?
The word “repress” means to use force to stop an uprising, protest, or similar unrest from growing. In plain terms, to hold down or crush something, whether an emotion or a rebellion.
How do you pronounce “repress”?
“Repress” is pronounced ruh-PREHS (/ɹəˈpɹɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “repress” in a sentence?
Here is “repress” used in a sentence: “The government sent troops to repress the demonstrations.”
What part of speech is “repress”?
“Repress” is a verb.
Where does the word “repress” come from?
The word “repress” comes from Latin. From Latin repressus, the past participle of reprimere, "to press back" — from re- plus premere ("to press").
How many meanings does “repress” have?
“Repress” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to use force to stop an uprising, protest, or similar unrest from growing.
