adjective
Uncommon
repressed
rih-PREHST
Repressed (adjective) means Held back or kept from being expressed, especially emotions. Example: “Years of repressed anger finally came out during the argument.”
adjective
1
Held back or kept from being expressed, especially emotions.
"Years of repressed anger finally came out during the argument."
2
Showing an inability or unwillingness to express one's feelings openly.
"He came across as cold and repressed, even around close friends."
How to use repressed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKept bottled up rather than expressed openly.
Common pairings
repressed emotions
sexually repressed
repressed memories
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more repressed
- Superlative
- most repressed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Years of _____ anger finally came out during the argument.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for repressed
blessed
dressed
pressed
assessed
stressed
obsessed
recessed
depressed
professed
possessed
oppressed
impressed
See all rhymes for repressed →
Frequently asked questions
What does “repressed” mean?
The word “repressed” means held back or kept from being expressed, especially emotions. In plain terms, kept bottled up rather than expressed openly.
How do you pronounce “repressed”?
“Repressed” is pronounced rih-PREHST (/ɹɪˈpɹɛst/ in IPA).
How do you use “repressed” in a sentence?
Here is “repressed” used in a sentence: “Years of repressed anger finally came out during the argument.”
What part of speech is “repressed”?
“Repressed” is an adjective.
Is “repressed” a common word?
“Repressed” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “repressed” have?
“Repressed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: held back or kept from being expressed, especially emotions.
