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Repress for Dummies

verb

pronunciation: ri'prɛs

What does Repress really mean?

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Hey there, kiddo! I heard you're trying to understand the word "repress." Well, I'm here to help you out with that. So, let's dive right in!

Repress is a word we use to describe a situation when someone tries really hard to push down or hide their thoughts, emotions, or feelings. It's kind of like when you have a secret toy that you really, really want to play with, but you don't want anyone to know about it. So, what would you do? You'd probably try to hide it under your bed or inside your pillowcase, right? Well, that's very similar to what it means to repress something.

Imagine you're at a friend's birthday party, and there's a big, delicious bowl of chocolate ice cream in front of you. But, unfortunately, you're allergic to chocolate, and eating it would make you sick. Now, even though your taste buds are screaming for you to dive into that creamy goodness, you know that it's not good for you. So, you try your best to repress the temptation to eat the ice cream because you know it's in your best interest to avoid it.

But wait, there's more to it!

Repress can also mean when someone holds back their memories or desires from the past. It's like locking away a precious memory in a little box in the back of your mind. Sometimes, this happens because those memories bring up strong emotions like sadness or fear, and we may not be ready to face them just yet.

For example, let's say you had a really scary encounter with a barking dog when you were younger. Now, whenever you see any dog, even a friendly one, you start feeling nervous and scared. In this scenario, you might unconsciously repress the memory of that scary incident to protect yourself from those overwhelming emotions that it brings up.

So, in a nutshell, to repress means to hold back or hide something, whether it's thoughts, emotions, feelings, desires, or memories. It's like trying to keep a secret from everyone, including yourself!

I hope this explanation helps you understand the word better, my friend. Remember, it's absolutely okay to ask questions or seek clarification if anything is still unclear. Keep up the great work, and never stop exploring the world of words!


Revised and Fact checked by Sophia Wright on 2023-10-29 16:30:47

Repress In a sentece

Learn how to use Repress inside a sentece

  • When you feel sad or angry, but you don't show it and keep those feelings inside, you repress your emotions.
  • If a person is scared of heights and avoids going to tall buildings or looking down from high places, they may be repressing their fear.
  • Imagine you did something wrong, but you feel so guilty and ashamed that you try to forget about it and pretend it never happened. This is a way to repress your guilt.
  • Sometimes, when a person experiences a traumatic event, they may repress the memories of that event as a way to protect themselves from the pain.
  • When someone constantly tells themselves that they are not good enough, pretty enough, or smart enough, they are repressing their self-confidence.

Repress Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Repress Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Repress Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.