repressed

1 of 2

adjective

re·​pressed ri-ˈprest 

1

: subjected to or marked by repression

2

: characterized by restraint

repressed

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of repress

Synonyms of repressed

Adjective

• muted
• restrained
• subdued
• quiet
• conservative

Examples of repressed in a Sentence

Adjective

a 19th-century church in the repressed style favored by the strict religious sect

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Oakley’s spin isn’t one of those gossamer period love stories about repressed emotions — those are there, yes, but the Dashwoods are actively pressing against their station at all times. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026

Droog takes time to savor his accomplishments while also dealing with years of repressed emotions. — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026

While Calvinism, weaving, deeply repressed sexuality, and passages in Scottish Gaelic don’t exactly sound like the ingredient list for a riot, Stuart builds a rich universe from these seemingly spartan forms. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

Pavese situated the story of his time in much longer cycles than the ventennio of Fascism, which, as contemporary history attests, wasn’t so much defeated as repressed. — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for repressed

• acquiesced
• coalesced
• dispossessed
• manifest
• overdressed
• overstressed
• prepossessed
• reassessed
• reinvest
• repossessed
• unaddressed
• uncompressed

Kids Definition

repressed

adjective

re·​pressed ri-ˈprest 

1

: subjected to or marked by repression

a repressed child

2

: characterized by a keeping in check

Medical Definition

repressed

adjective

re·​pressed ri-ˈprest 

: subjected to or marked by repression

a repressed child

repressed anger