1
as in to suppress
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
you can't repress your feelings forever, so tell her how you feel about her
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repress
The state ultimately repressed this uprising, but also loosened some of its rules.
—
Nahid Siamdoust, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Violent crime is also common, and the government violently represses journalists and dissidents.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
One dictator after another brutally repressed their opponents and fostered a climate of fear.
—Aaron Coy Moulton, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
But the Islamic Republic still has the forces—in the hundreds of thousands—to repress the current uprising.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repress
Nahid Siamdoust, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Violent crime is also common, and the government violently represses journalists and dissidents.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
One dictator after another brutally repressed their opponents and fostered a climate of fear.
—Aaron Coy Moulton, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
But the Islamic Republic still has the forces—in the hundreds of thousands—to repress the current uprising.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repress
Verb
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Nevertheless, the free spirit of Americans cannot be suppressed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
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The royal government was also known as a dictatorship for banning political parties, suppressing revolts and political opposition, controlling the press and having its own secret police force called SAVAK.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That influx of Chinese imports could be making its way to American shores—and, in the process, stifling the growth of local industry in the African markets.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Feb. 2026
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Without these oversight measures, the public’s ability to give its input was stifled, the lawsuit alleges.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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His statement did little to quell the outrage.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
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Soon after the national security law imposed by Beijing to quell the 2019 massive pro-democracy demonstrations took effect in June 2020, police arrested Lai.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This scene in Seoul in January may seem totally contrary to the usual headlines from South Korea, of plummeting birth rates and a looming demographic crisis that also threatens to swallow neighboring Japan and China.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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Then they were gone, swallowed up by the trees’ resplendent emerald green.—
Jeff Chu,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The last Winter Olympics, held in Beijing during COVID, were subdued.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
6 Feb. 2026
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Fans in the arena have been fairly subdued, but an in-house DJ has made a steady stream of dance hits the day’s soundtrack.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repress. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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