repression

re·pres·sion

noun \ri-ˈpre-shən\

Definition of REPRESSION

1

a : the action or process of repressing : the state of being repressed <repression of unpopular opinions> b : an instance of repressing <racial repressions>

2

a : a mental process by which distressing thoughts, memories, or impulses that may give rise to anxiety are excluded from consciousness and left to operate in the unconscious b : an item so excluded

— re·pres·sion·ist \-sh(ə-)nist\ adjective

Examples of REPRESSION

1. the state's repression of its citizens
2. They survived 60 years of political repression.

First Known Use of REPRESSION

1533

Related to REPRESSION

Synonyms: continence, discipline, discretion, inhibition, refrainment, constraint, reserve, restraint, self-command, self-control, self-restraint, suppression

Antonyms: disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint

Related Words: command, control, mastery, possession; self-censorship, self-containment, self-denial, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, will, willpower; composure, self-poise, self-possession; aloofness, detachedness, distance; bashfulness, modesty, shyness; reticence, silence, taciturnity

Near Antonyms: self-abandonment, uninhibitedness; unrestrainedness; gratification, indulgence, overindulgence, self-indulgence; bluntness, candor, frankness; immoderacy, intemperance

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Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with REPRESSION

accession, aggression, bull session, compression, concession, confession, depression, digression, discretion, egression, expression, impression, ingression, jam session, obsession, oppression, precession, procession, profession, progression, recession, refreshen, regression, secession, skull session, succession, suppression, transgression