repression

noun

re·​pres·​sion ri-ˈpre-shən How to pronounce repression (audio)
1
a
: the action or process of repressing : the state of being repressed
repression of unpopular opinions
b
: an instance of repressing
racial repressions
2
a
: a mental process by which distressing thoughts, memories, or impulses that may give rise to anxiety are excluded from consciousness and left to operate in the unconscious
b
: an item so excluded
repressionist adjective

Examples of repression in a Sentence

the state's repression of its citizens They survived 60 years of political repression.
Recent Examples on the Web As history has shown, maintaining racial inequality requires constant repression and is therefore antithetical to democracy. Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Where Strings and Tenenbaum differ is in their perspective on how the pressure cookers of online dating, social media, and economic repression affect different social groups. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 Many assumed that the authorities would not risk overt moves toward repression that might backfire and thus jeopardize their privileged lives. Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2024 It was seen by many as a declaration of her own political ambitions at a time when the Russian opposition — already decimated by years of repression and the crackdown that followed the war in Ukraine — was now reeling from the loss of its chief. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2024 In Moscow, a crowd of mourners lay flowers in the snow before a monument to victims of political repression in a growing tribute to the late opposition figure, according to video from the scene. Anna Chernova, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024 The report highlights specific examples of alleged repression in France, Northern Ireland, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Spain, Germany, Austria, Netherlands and Finland. Thomas Catenacci, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2024 But both are so bound by repression and secrecy that they’re almost doomed to be dramatically inert. Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Opponents of the Kremlin often meet terrible extralegal ends that go far beyond the limits of mere repression. Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'repression.' 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

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of repression was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near repression

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

repression

noun
re·​pres·​sion ri-ˈpresh-ən How to pronounce repression (audio)
1
: the act of repressing : the state of being repressed
2
: a process of the mind by which painful or disturbing thoughts or desires are kept from conscious awareness

Medical Definition

repression

noun
re·​pres·​sion ri-ˈpresh-ən How to pronounce repression (audio)
1
: the action or process of repressing
gene repression
2
a
: a process by which unacceptable desires or impulses are excluded from consciousness and left to operate in the unconscious compare suppression sense c
b
: an item so excluded

More from Merriam-Webster on repression

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