repress
/ɹəˈpɹɛs/ verb, noun
Forms represses repressing repressed
- verb (transitive) To forcefully prevent an upheaval from developing further. “to repress rebellion or sedition”
- verb (transitive, by extension) To check; to keep back.
- verb To press again. “to repress a vinyl record”
- noun A record pressed again; a repressing.
Synonyms
crush put down quell subdue suppress tread restrain hold back behedge guard govern smother bind chasten choke back check inhibit catch contain vanquish quash keep down subjugate reduce stifle strangle muffle
Etymology
Ultimately from Latin repressus, the perfect passive participle of reprimō (“to repress”).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To press again.
- verb To press back or down effectually; to crush down or out; to quell; to subdue; to supress; as, to repress sedition or rebellion; to repress the first risings of discontent.
- verb Hence, to check; to restrain; to keep back.
- noun The act of repressing. [Obs.]
Etymology [Pref. re- + press.]
Etymology [Pref. re- + press: cf. L. reprimere, repressum. Cf. Reprimand.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “repress”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details