REPRESSION Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

repression

noun

ri-ˈpre-shən

Definition of repression

as in restraint

the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others psychologists talking about the repression of anger and how it affects one's health

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of repression After nearly 10 years carrying out Chinese government repression in Xinjiang, a former police officer is now seeking asylum in Germany. — Sheryl Gay Stolberg Colby Smith Chico Harlan Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 30 July 2026 Reports of police repression continued to surface, sometimes including the use of pellet guns. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 Every few hours, the threat of more police action and greater repression surfaced. — Yamini Aiyar, Time, 29 July 2026 The January crackdown, sparked by economic anger and calls to oust Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left thousands dead and tens of thousands jailed in the Islamic Republic’s bloodiest repression. — Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for repression

Recent Examples of Synonyms for repression

Noun

What can be done to put our leader in some kind of restraint?

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026
The dire time restraints were real, along with the contentious Zoom meetings or phone calls that have taken place over the past five months.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of restraint

Noun

Hostile takeovers and leveraged buyouts in the 1980s enforced the new discipline.

— Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
For three years, Chicago police officers accused of serious misconduct have had to sit and wait for the Illinois Supreme Court to decide the future of officer discipline.

— Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of discipline

Noun

The number of Southern European fires and amount of land burned had decreased quite a bit from the 1980s to 2018, mostly because of better fire suppression and management techniques, Cordero said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Mash Dogs at 5248 Democracy Drive closed for cleanup July 24 after the hood fire suppression system was activated and fire retardant landed on surrounding surfaces.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026

Definition of suppression

Noun

Put inhibitions aside to experience the latest episode of Doc Talk, hosted by John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Shirley), and Matt Carey, Deadline’s senior documentary editor.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 June 2026
Darkness removes that inhibition and allows the pineal gland to release melatonin.

— Sally Ibrahim, The Conversation, 23 June 2026

Definition of inhibition

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repressing

repression

repressive

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“Repression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repression. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of repression

noun

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