Repressing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ri-ˈpres/ (verb) /(ˌ)rē-ˈpres/ (verb) re·press

Meaning & Definition of Repressing

Repressing (verb)

  1. to check by or as if by pressure, curb
  2. to put down by force, subdue
  3. to hold in by self-control
  4. to press again

Repressing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to put a stop to (something) by the use of force

    "quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order"

    similar: clamping down (on), cracking down (on), crushing, putting down, quashing, quelling, silencing, slapping down, snuffing (out), squashing, squelching, subduing, suppressing, sitting on
    related: dousing, extinguishing, putting out, quenching, smothering, stifling, strangling, throttling, annihilating, decimating, demolishing, desolating, destroying, devastating, nuking, rubbing out, ruining, smashing, wasting, wrecking, exterminating, obliterating, wiping out, conquering, dominating, overcoming, overpowering, overwhelming, subjugating, vanquishing
    near: abetting, aiding, assisting, backing, helping, propping up, supporting, fomenting, inciting, instigating, provoking, stirring, whipping (up), advancing, cultivating, encouraging, forwarding, fostering, furthering, nourishing, nurturing, promoting

  2. to refrain from openly showing or uttering

    "you can't repress your feelings forever, so tell her how you feel about her"

    similar: choking (back), holding back, pocketing, sinking, smothering, stifling, strangling, submerging, suppressing, swallowing
    related: controlling, governing, managing, bridling, checking, curbing, quashing, quelling, bottling up, containing, muffling, squelching
    near: expressing, loosing, releasing, taking out, unleashing, venting

Related Entry: Repress (verb)

Repress is a different word from Repressing. The synonyms below are for repress, not for repressing.

  1. to put a stop to (something) by the use of force

    "quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order"

    similar: clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, quell, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress, sit on
    related: douse, extinguish, put out, quench, smother, stifle, strangle, throttle, annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck, exterminate, obliterate, wipe out, conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subjugate, vanquish
    near: abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop up, support, foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir, whip (up), advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote

  2. to refrain from openly showing or uttering

    "you can't repress your feelings forever, so tell her how you feel about her"

    similar: choke (back), hold back, pocket, sink, smother, stifle, strangle, submerge, suppress, swallow
    related: control, govern, manage, bridle, check, curb, quash, quell, bottle up, contain, muffle, squelch
    near: express, loose, release, take out, unleash, vent

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Repressing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Repressing:

clamping down (on), cracking down (on), crushing, putting down, quashing, quelling, silencing, slapping down, snuffing (out), squashing, squelching, subduing, suppressing, choking (back), holding back, pocketing, sinking, smothering, stifling, strangling, submerging, swallowing, sitting on

Related Words for Repressing

dousing, extinguishing, putting out, quenching, throttling, annihilating, decimating, demolishing, desolating, destroying, devastating, nuking, rubbing out, ruining, smashing, wasting, wrecking, exterminating, obliterating, wiping out, conquering, dominating, overcoming, overpowering, overwhelming, subjugating, vanquishing, controlling, governing, managing

Near Antonyms of Repressing

abetting, aiding, assisting, backing, helping, propping up, supporting, fomenting, inciting, instigating, provoking, stirring, whipping (up), advancing, cultivating, encouraging, forwarding, fostering, furthering, nourishing, nurturing, promoting, expressing, loosing, releasing, taking out, unleashing, venting

Word Forms of Repressing

Inflections: repressed, represses, re-pressed, re-pressing, re-presses

Derived words: repressibility (noun), repressible (adjective), repressive (adjective), repressively (adverb), repressiveness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Repressing

Middle English, from Anglo-French represser, from Latin repressus, past participle of reprimere to check, from re- + premere to press press

First known use: 14th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Repressing

What does "Repressing" mean?

"Repressing" means to check by or as if by pressure, curb. As a verb, it is defined as: to check by or as if by pressure, curb. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Repressing"?

Other words for "Repressing" include clamping down (on), cracking down (on), crushing, putting down, quashing, quelling, silencing and slapping down. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Repressing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Repressing"?

There are 59 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Repressing". Common alternatives include clamping down (on), cracking down (on), crushing, putting down, quashing, quelling, silencing, slapping down, snuffing (out) and squashing.

How do you use "Repressing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Repressing" in a sentence: "quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order"; "you can't repress your feelings forever, so tell her how you feel about her".

Is "Repressing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Repressing" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Repressing"?

"Repressing" is pronounced /ri-ˈpres/ as a verb and /(ˌ)rē-ˈpres/ as a verb and divided into syllables as re·press.

What is the origin of the word "Repressing"?

"Repressing" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French represser, from Latin repressus, past participle of reprimere to check, from re- + premere to press press. First known use: 14th centuryt.

What is another word for "Repressing" meaning "to put a stop to (something) by the use of force"?

When "Repressing" (verb) means to put a stop to (something) by the use of force, synonyms include clamping down (on), cracking down (on), crushing, putting down, quashing and quelling.