EN

Synonyms for repress

  • verb

Most common

suppress stifle subdue smother crush tread

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Suppress — to check; to keep back

suppress, stifle, subdue, smother, inhibit, restrain, quell, quash, dampen, subjugate, chasten, hold in, curb US, stop, quench, restrict, control, keep, hold back, strangle, overcome, check

2. Crush — to forcefully prevent an upheaval from developing further

crush, tread

Antonyms

express, release, liberate

All antonyms of repress →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To forcefully prevent an upheaval from developing further.

    to repress rebellion or sedition

  2. v. 2

    To check; to keep back.

Related words

Word family
repressible repression repressive repressor

Forms

Past participle
repressed
e.g. repressed → suppressed, stifled, subdued, smother'd…

Example sentences

  • suppress It was very hard for her to suppress her emotions.
  • subdue The police used tear gas to subdue the protestors.
  • stifle Sami stuffed a bag inside Layla's mouth to stifle her.
  • smother My sister likes to smother her toasts in butter.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
repressrising
suppresssteady
subduerising
stiflerising
smotherrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
keep1, stop1, curb1
5 letters
check1, crush1, tread1, quell1, quash1
6 letters
subdue2, stifle2, quench1, dampen2
7 letters
control2, inhibit3, smother2, chasten2
8 letters
overcome3, restrict2, suppress2, restrain2, strangle2
9 letters
subjugate3

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (subdue2 = 2 syllables).

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