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
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
Among them, the Baluch people of Sistan and Baluchestan face one of the most brutal forms of internal repression.
—
Jila Andalib, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
And during the Cold War, from 1955 to 1957, Fort Dix housed Hungarian refugees fleeing Soviet repression.
—Arkansas Online, 20 July 2025
Renewables also weaken the economic grip of authoritarian regimes that depend on oil revenues to fund repression and military aggression.
—Thais Lopez Vogel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2025
Byrne’s lyrics present lessons from the Irish and Irish-American legacies of colonial repression, diaspora, revolution, generational urban life, and working-class politics.
—Matthew Carey Salyer, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for repression
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Jila Andalib, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
And during the Cold War, from 1955 to 1957, Fort Dix housed Hungarian refugees fleeing Soviet repression.
—Arkansas Online, 20 July 2025
Renewables also weaken the economic grip of authoritarian regimes that depend on oil revenues to fund repression and military aggression.
—Thais Lopez Vogel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2025
Byrne’s lyrics present lessons from the Irish and Irish-American legacies of colonial repression, diaspora, revolution, generational urban life, and working-class politics.
—Matthew Carey Salyer, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for repression
Cite this Entry
“Repression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repression. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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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