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
But those hopes dimmed as the protests fizzled out, subsumed by a wave of arrests and mass repression.
—
Simon Shuster, TIME, 14 May 2024
The scope and intensity of repression has reached a point of brutality where people expect news of another heinous government crime every day.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for repression 
Simon Shuster, TIME, 14 May 2024
The scope and intensity of repression has reached a point of brutality where people expect news of another heinous government crime every day.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 May 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 18 May. 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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