repress
/rɪˈprɛs/
verb
- To control or stop something, especially feelings, thoughts, or actions, by force or effort.
- The government used the army to repress the protest.
- She tried to repress her anger during the argument.
- He couldn't repress a smile when he heard the good news.
- In psychology, to unconsciously push painful or disturbing memories, thoughts, or feelings out of conscious awareness.
- Many people repress traumatic childhood experiences without realizing it.
- She repressed the memory of the accident for years.
- The therapist helped him understand how he had repressed his fear of failure.