Antonyms for repress
rɪˈprɛsre·press

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. repressverb

   To prevent forcefully an upheaval from developing further.

   Synonyms:
   subdue, quell, crush out, suppress

2. repressverb

   Hence, to check; to keep back.

   Synonyms:
   restrain, hold back

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. repress

   To restrain is to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force. Constrain is positive; restrain is negative; one is constrained to an action; he is restrained from an action. Constrain refers almost exclusively to moral force, restrain frequently to physical force, as when we speak of putting one under restraint. To restrain an action is to hold it partially or wholly in check, so that it is under pressure even while it acts; to restrict an action is to fix a limit or boundary which it may not pass, but within which it is free. To repress, literally to press back, is to hold in check, and perhaps only temporarily, that which is still very active; it is a feebler word than restrain; to suppress is finally and effectually to put down; suppress is a much stronger word than restrain; as, to suppress a rebellion. Compare ARREST; BIND; KEEP.

   Antonyms:
   aid, animate, arouse, emancipate, encourage, excite, free, impel, incite, let loose, release, set free

   Synonyms:
   abridge, bridle, check, circumscribe, confine, constrain, curb, hinder, hold, hold back, hold in, keep, keep back, keep down, keep in, keep under, restrain, restrict, suppress, withhold

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. repress

   Antonyms:
   raise, rouse, excite, agitate, aggravate, foment, intensify, foster, encourage, stimulate, incite, fan

   Synonyms:
   crush, quell, subdue, check, restrain, curb, overpower, mitigate, damp, calm, control

Matched Categories

1. • Change
   • Forget
   • Psychiatry

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. repress, quash, keep down, subdue, subjugate, reduceverb

   put down by force or intimidation

   "The government quashes any attempt of an uprising"; "China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently"; "The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land"

   Synonyms:
   chasten, strangle, get over, suppress, concentrate, master, conquer, avoid, quash, slim down, boil down, surmount, scale down, annul, trim down, thin out, inhibit, lose weight, decoct, cut, foreshorten, nullify, abbreviate, trim, slenderize, subject, shorten, deoxidise, crucify, subjugate, cut down, abridge, reduce, contract, melt off, subdue, curb, stamp down, invalidate, deoxidize, come down, subordinate, tame, number, mortify, dilute, slim, shrink, smother, thin, bring down, trim back, cut back, overcome, muffle, keep down, stifle, void, tighten

2. smother, stifle, strangle, muffle, repressverb

   conceal or hide

   "smother a yawn"; "muffle one's anger"; "strangle a yawn"

   Synonyms:
   keep down, cramp, muffle, surround, quash, halter, suppress, asphyxiate, subjugate, gag, mute, strangulate, throttle, reduce, hamper, put out, damp, suffocate, dull, smother, choke, stifle, dampen, tone down, strangle, subdue

3. suppress, repressverb

   put out of one's consciousness

   Synonyms:
   keep down, muffle, bottle up, oppress, stamp down, inhibit, reduce, subjugate, smother, crush, quash, stifle, suppress, conquer, curb, strangle, subdue

4. repressverb

   block the action of

   Synonyms:
   stifle, subdue, subjugate, muffle, strangle, keep down, smother, reduce, suppress, quash

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. repressverb

   Synonyms:
   quell, subdue, suppress, overpower, restrain, curb, stifle

How to use repress in a sentence?

1. Alissa Wise:

   These laws are meant to silence and repress, but they cant change peoples hearts and minds.

2. Renae A. Sauter:

   Many of us learned to repress our creativity. We were told it was secondary to more important skills. The good news is that many of us have untapped gifts just wating to be expressed. You owe it to yourself to uncover and express your gifts

3. United States:

   The United States Government and Department of Commerce can not and will not tolerate the brutal suppression of ethnic minorities within China, this action will ensure that our technologies, fostered in an environment of individual liberty and free enterprise, are not used to repress defenseless minority populations.

4. Maria Olivares:

   They come and repress us when in their homes they're suffering too.

5. Karl Marx:

   The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.

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