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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
These vampires aren’t stand-ins for aristocracy or repressed desire. James Grebey, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024 Skye’s story is riddled with trap doors that keep opening into her repressed reality, and Naomi Scott plays this with great skill. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 Oct. 2024 Anna Sawai on her emotional Emmys win, similarities between her 'repressed' Pachinko and Shōgun characters As Hugh explains to Entertainment Weekly, the creative departure was rooted in the intense exchange between father and son that came before. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 11 Oct. 2024 It was based on the controversial 1920s opera Sancta Susanna, whose story follows a nun facing her repressed desires. Carlo Angerer, NBC News, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for repressed 

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 10 Nov. 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!