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unrepressed

unrepressed

7.5
People show strong feelings openly without control
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnrɪˈprɛst/
translation icon : sin represión
  • The artist's unrepressed creativity brought new life to traditional techniques.

Examples

  • Violet is diametrically opposed to Potter, literally embodying the "unrepressed sexual expressiveness" that Potter has "excluded or exorcized" from his body (p. 384).

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Instincts in an unrepressed form—"passionate destructiveness," "insane and irrational springs of wickedness"—are incompatible with civilization, however.

    Academic text (1990)
  • My father's fascination with the unrepressed went even deeper.

    Academic text (1999)
  • A core of regulars attends these outings, but every so often somebody fresh is tried out to see if he or she fits in with our particular brand of indulgent behavior and unrepressed cynicism.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • He expressed his emotions in an unrepressed manner during the therapy session.

  • Her unrepressed enthusiasm for the project inspired everyone on the team.

Synonyms

unchecked
vsunrepressed
34 4.9

Allowed to continue without control

refers to inner impulses not being suppressed rather than ongoing processes
uncontrolled
vsunrepressed
31 3.9

Not kept within limits, like a fire or a strong feeling

applies especially to internal feelings or impulses rather than external systems
unbridled
vsunrepressed
25 7.3

Very strong feelings or actions that are not kept under control

means unrestrained but emphasizes lack of control rather than excessiveness
unrestrained
vsunrepressed
13 5.7

Not held back and showing strong feelings or actions

focuses on lack of suppression specifically for emotions or impulses
irrepressible
vsunrepressed
12 7.0

Full of energy and excitement that you cannot control

describes lack of suppression without implying it cannot be controlled
untrammeled
vsunrepressed
  • Formal
2 8.3

Free and not limited by rules

is about internal lack of suppression rather than general freedom
unsuppressed
vsunrepressed
1 6.7

Shown or felt openly without being held back

is the broader state of feelings not being kept under control
unhampered
vsunrepressed
1 5.3

Free to move or act without being stopped

applies specifically to feelings not being suppressed rather than general movement
untempered
vsunrepressed
8.4

Very strong and not held back

is similar but names the unrestrained state without stressing extremeness
undammed
vsunrepressed
6.5

Showing strong feelings or energy that are not held back

describes the same freedom but without the flowing metaphor
unrein
vsunrepressed
8.6

Not held back and showing strong feelings or energy

is focused more narrowly on inner impulses not being suppressed

Antonyms

6 6.5

Having strong feelings that a person keeps inside and does not show to others

How Repressed

repressed
6 6.5
unrepressed
7.5
uninhibited
15 6.9

Surface Forms

unrepressed positive

Morphology

unrepressed = repressed (transparent) = un + repress + ed

Standard negation 'un-' added to the participial/adjectival 'repressed' yields the obvious meaning 'not restrained or suppressed'.

Etymology

Unrepressed starts with un- meaning 'not' and has the root press meaning 'push', so repress is to 'push down' or hold back. That's why unrepressed describes feelings or actions that are not held back and happen openly.