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   Re·press

   /rəˈpres/

   

   verb

   • 1. subdue (someone or something) by force: "the uprisings were repressed" Similar suppressquellquashsubdueput downput an end tocrushsquashextinguishstamp output a stop tostopendnip in the buddefeatconquerroutoverpoweroverwhelmtriumph overtrouncevanquishget the better ofcontaingain control overgain mastery overinformal:squelchoppresssubjugatehold downkeep downrule with a rod of ironrule with an iron handdominateintimidatemasterdomineer overtyrannizesubjectcrushoverpowerovercome
   • ▪ restrain, prevent, or inhibit (the expression or development of something): "Isabel couldn't repress a sharp cry of fear"
   • ▪ suppress (a thought, feeling, or desire) in oneself so that it becomes or remains unconscious: "the thought that he had killed his brother was so terrible that he repressed it" Similar restrainhold backkeep backhold inbite backsuppressfight backkeep in checkcheckcontrolkeep under controlcurbrein incontainsilencemufflestiflesmotherswallowchoke backstranglegagconcealhidebottle upinhibitfrustrateinformal:button upkeep the lid oncork upOpposite releaseexpress
   • ▪ prevent the transcription of (a gene).

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘keep back something objectionable’): from Latin repress- ‘pressed back, checked’, from the verb reprimere, from re- ‘back’ + premere ‘to press’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. represser noun
   • 2. repressible adjective

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • R

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   • E

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   • P

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   • R

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   • E

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   • S

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   • S

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