repressed

adjective

re·​pressed ri-ˈprest How to pronounce repressed (audio)
1
: subjected to or marked by repression
2
: characterized by restraint

Examples of repressed in a Sentence

a 19th-century church in the repressed style favored by the strict religious sect
Recent Examples on the Web Yew’s direction is artfully restrained, as keeping with the novel and its highly repressed characters. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024 Two common solutions were the fear of pregnancy and the repressed desire for fellatio. Anna Shechtman, Harper's Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 Another theme buried within Jonah is how our repressed memories are most likely to come up in generic liminal spaces. Vulture, 2 Feb. 2024 This underrated indie comedy transports Alison Brie, Kate Micucci, and Aubrey Plaza and all their modern comedic sensibilities to 1347 Italy, with the trio playing repressed nuns. Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 27 Nov. 2023 The show for me is all about removing this repressed sensual and erotic energy that has been in place for so long. Seth Combs, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2024 Melton is a repository of repressed rage, his every exchange with his wife hinting at the depths of his anguish and everything that has been left unsaid between them. Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2024 All of that repressed WASPy stuff doesn't work for me. Adam England, Peoplemag, 28 Dec. 2023 But as her character reenters the opera world after several years away from the scene, some disturbing memories from her past haunt her, allowing for her repressed trauma to color the present. Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'repressed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of repressed was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near repressed

Cite this Entry

“Repressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repressed. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

repressed

adjective
re·​pressed ri-ˈprest How to pronounce repressed (audio)
1
: subjected to or marked by repression
a repressed child
2
: characterized by a keeping in check

Medical Definition

repressed

adjective
re·​pressed ri-ˈprest How to pronounce repressed (audio)
: subjected to or marked by repression
a repressed child
repressed anger

More from Merriam-Webster on repressed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!