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
One effect of this austerity and repression is to focus attention on Albee’s language, with its slippery banalities and barbs.
—
Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
The state responded with the repression of protesters, followed by a consolidation of the security apparatus – particularly the expanding influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps around the supreme leader.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The next day representatives of various organizations and churches met to discuss police harassment as part of the political repression of the Young Lords.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Despite bombardment and economic collapse, the regime’s machinery of repression is fully active.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repression
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Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
The state responded with the repression of protesters, followed by a consolidation of the security apparatus – particularly the expanding influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps around the supreme leader.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The next day representatives of various organizations and churches met to discuss police harassment as part of the political repression of the Young Lords.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Despite bombardment and economic collapse, the regime’s machinery of repression is fully active.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repression
Cite this Entry
“Repression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repression. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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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