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

Held back or kept from being expressed, especially emotions.

"Years of repressed anger finally came out during the argument."

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 notes

In plain EnglishKept bottled up rather than expressed openly.

Common pairings

repressed emotions sexually repressed repressed memories

Word forms

more repressed comparative, most repressed superlative

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Years of _____ anger finally came out during the argument.

Rhymes for repressed

blessed dressed pressed assessed stressed obsessed recessed depressed professed possessed oppressed impressed

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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.