repress

/rɪˈpres/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪˈpres/ (ame, ipa) · /ri-ˈpres/ (ame, mw)

repress — verb

  • represspresent simple I / you / we / they
  • represseshe / she / it
  • repressedpast simple
  • repressing-ing form

1. to stop yourself from showing or experiencing a feeling, emotion, or desire — fo

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to stop yourself from showing or experiencing a feeling, emotion, or desire — for example, forcing yourself not to laugh in a serious situation, or pushing a painful memory out of your mind.

例句

Elena tried to repress her laughter during the solemn ceremony.

repress + emotion noun (laughter, anger, fear)

Hassan could not repress the anger he felt when he heard the false accusation.

同義詞
  • suppress

    very similar meaning; 'suppress' often implies a more conscious effort to stop something, while 'repress' can be unconscious in psychology.

  • hold back

    less formal, everyday phrase ('held back his tears').

  • bottle up

    informal; suggests keeping emotions inside until they may overflow ('bottle up your anger').

反義詞
  • express

    to show or communicate a feeling openly.

  • release

    to let a feeling or emotion out.

文法句型

repress + noun phrase (feeling/emotion/desire/thought)

用法筆記

Often used in psychology contexts. This sense is different from 'suppress', but the two words overlap in everyday usage. In strict psychological terms, 'repress' is unconscious while 'suppress' is conscious.

常見錯誤

❌I repressed myself from saying anything rude.
✅I stopped myself from saying anything rude.
💡'repress' is transitive and takes a direct object (a feeling, emotion, or memory), not a reflexive pronoun.

2. to control a population or community by using force or limiting people's freedom

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to control a population or community by using force or limiting people's freedom, usually through political or military power — for example, a government sending soldiers to stop a protest, or a regime silencing its critics.

例句

The government sent armed police to repress the street protests.

repress + protest / rebellion / uprising

For decades the regime repressed any journalist who questioned its policies.

同義詞
  • suppress

    often interchangeable in political contexts ('suppress a rebellion').

  • crush

    stronger and more violent; suggests total destruction ('crush the uprising').

  • oppress

    implies ongoing, long-term cruel or unjust treatment rather than a single forceful act.

反義詞
  • liberate

    to set free from control or oppression.

  • empower

    to give someone the power or freedom to act.

文法句型

repress + noun phrase (people/group/protest/minority)

用法筆記

Frequently appears in news reports and human-rights contexts. Unlike sense 1 (emotions), this sense always involves external force against people or groups. The noun form 'repression' is very common in this political meaning.