repress Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb put down by force or intimidation
    subdue; reduce; quash; subjugate; keep down.
    • The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
    • China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
    • The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land
  2. verb conceal or hide
    muffle; strangle; stifle; smother.
    • smother a yawn
    • muffle one's anger
    • strangle a yawn
  3. verb put out of one's consciousness
    suppress.
  4. verb block the action of

WordNet

Re*press" transitive verb
Etymology
Pref. re- + press.
Definitions
  1. To press again.
Re*press" transitive verb
Etymology
Pref. re- + press: cf. L. reprimere, repressum. Cf. Reprimand.
Definitions
  1. To press back or down effectually; to crush down or out; to quell; to subdue; to supress; as, to repress sedition or rebellion; to repress the first risings of discontent.
  2. Hence, to check; to restrain; to keep back.
    Desire of wine and all delicious drinks, . . . Thou couldst repress. Milton.
    Syn. -- To crush; overpower; subdue; suppress; restrain; quell; curb; check.
Re*press" noun
Definitions
  1. The act of repressing. Obs.

Webster 1913