repressed

adjective

re·​pressed ri-ˈprest 

1

: subjected to or marked by repression

2

: characterized by restraint

Synonyms

• conservative
• low-key
• low-keyed
• muted
• quiet
• restrained
• sober
• subdued
• toned-down
• understated
• unflashy
• unpretentious

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

How about Mona manipulating her classmates’ stereotypes about repressed Muslim girls to become more popular? —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025

His greatest foe was a malevolent being known as The Void, which is actually a facet of his own repressed psyche. —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Joel — a repressed Gen X dad who, in a twist far more unbelievable than a fungal zombie outbreak, has started therapy — muses to Dina that Ellie’s sudden chilliness toward him is simply the behavior of a teenager who’s pushing for freedom from her father figure. —Abby Monteil, Them., 14 Apr. 2025

Shadow: Disconnected from desires, unresolved trauma, addiction, repressed emotions, lack of energy. —Lisa Stardust, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for repressed

• acquiesced
• coalesced
• dispossessed
• manifest
• overdressed
• overstressed
• prepossessed
• reassessed
• reinvest
• repossessed
• unaddressed
• uncompressed

Kids Definition

repressed

adjective

re·​pressed ri-ˈprest 

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 

: subjected to or marked by repression

a repressed child

repressed anger