verb

repress

ruh-PREHS

verb

To use force to stop an uprising, protest, or similar unrest from growing.

"The government sent troops to repress the demonstrations."

To hold back or restrain a feeling, urge, or reaction.

"He struggled to repress a laugh during the serious meeting."

How to Use Repress

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo hold down or crush something, whether an emotion or a rebellion.

Common pairings

repress a smile repress dissent repress an urge

repressed past tense, repressed past tense, represses plural, represses singular, represses singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The government sent troops to _____ the demonstrations.

From Latin repressus, the past participle of reprimere, "to press back" — from re- plus premere ("to press").

depress