repressed

re·press  (r-prs)

v. re·pressed, re·press·ing, re·press·es

v.tr.

1. To hold back by an act of volition: couldn't repress a smirk.

2. To put down by force, usually before total control has been lost; quell: repress a rebellion.

3. Psychology To exclude (painful or disturbing memories, for example) automatically or unconsciously from the conscious mind.

4. Biology To block (transcription of a gene) by combination of a protein to an operator gene.

v.intr.

To take repressive action.

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[Middle English repressen, from Latin reprimere, repress- : re-, re- + premere, to press; see per-⁴ in Indo-European roots.]

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re·pressi·bili·ty n.

re·pressi·ble adj.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

repressed - characterized by or showing the suppression of impulses or emotions; "her severe upbringing had left her inhibited"; "a very inhibited young man, anxious and ill at ease"; "their reactions were partly the product of pent-up emotions"; "repressed rage turned his face scarlet" pent-up inhibited - held back or restrained or prevented; "in certain conditions previously inhibited conditioned reactions can reappear"