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
High levels of repression also create a rising reservoir of general dissatisfaction, so that even a small outburst of discontent can quickly spiral into trouble for the regime.
—
Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
Detention and torture became an integral part of the state’s repression of dissent.
—Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Indeed, across South Korea, people of all ages have poured into the streets in massive numbers in recent days to send the message that there is no going back to military rule and its dark legacy of repression from the 1980s.
—Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Dec. 2024
Israeli feminists took an interest, but what surprised Cohen more was the feedback from religious Jews, some of whom were inspired by the example of Iranian women standing up to religious repression.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for repression 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
Detention and torture became an integral part of the state’s repression of dissent.
—Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Indeed, across South Korea, people of all ages have poured into the streets in massive numbers in recent days to send the message that there is no going back to military rule and its dark legacy of repression from the 1980s.
—Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Dec. 2024
Israeli feminists took an interest, but what surprised Cohen more was the feedback from religious Jews, some of whom were inspired by the example of Iranian women standing up to religious repression.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for repression
Dictionary Entries Near repression
Cite this Entry
“Repression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repression. Accessed 30 Dec. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share