repression

/rɪˈprɛʃən/
noun
  1. The act of controlling or stopping something, especially feelings or desires, by force or by not allowing them to be expressed.
    • She struggled with the repression of her true emotions for years.
    • His repression of anger eventually led to a huge outburst.
    • The government's repression of free speech was condemned by activists.
  2. The act of using force to control a group of people and limit their freedom.
    • Many citizens fled the nation to escape religious repression.
    • The regime's repression of dissent included arrests and censorship.
    • The country suffered under decades of political repression.
  3. In psychology, the unconscious act of pushing painful or disturbing memories, thoughts, or feelings out of one's awareness.
    • The therapist explained how repression works as a defense mechanism.
    • Repression of childhood trauma can affect a person's behavior as an adult.
    • According to Freud, repression is a key concept in psychoanalysis.