repression
noun
re·pres·sion
ri-ˈpre-shən 
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
Synonyms
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
Thousands of Cubans have fought under brutal repression to bring about systemic change, despite the misery and oppression imposed by those in power.
—
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 23 Oct. 2024
The cumulative effect on young people of this mix of brutal repression and aggressive courtship is, for the moment at least, silence: among Russia’s youth today, there are few signs of any meaningful currents of resistance.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2024
Bangladesh was the Asia-Pacific’s fastest growing economy over the past decade, with GDP rising from $71 billion in 2006 to $460 billion in 2022 (even if inequality and political repression equally soared).
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024
Palestinian officials said the killing reflected how Israel has intensified its repression of Palestinian protests in the territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
—Julia Frankel and Aref Tufana, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for repression 
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 23 Oct. 2024
The cumulative effect on young people of this mix of brutal repression and aggressive courtship is, for the moment at least, silence: among Russia’s youth today, there are few signs of any meaningful currents of resistance.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2024
Bangladesh was the Asia-Pacific’s fastest growing economy over the past decade, with GDP rising from $71 billion in 2006 to $460 billion in 2022 (even if inequality and political repression equally soared).
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024
Palestinian officials said the killing reflected how Israel has intensified its repression of Palestinian protests in the territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
—Julia Frankel and Aref Tufana, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for repression
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.
Dictionary Entries Near repression
Cite this Entry
“Repression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repression. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
repression
noun
re·pres·sion
ri-ˈpresh-ən
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
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
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