irrepressible
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- irrepressibility noun
- irrepressibleness noun
- irrepressibly adverb
Etymology
Origin of irrepressible
First recorded in 1805–15; ir- 2 + repressible ( def. )
Explanation
Something that’s irrepressible can’t be restrained. If you find yourself constantly looking up the definitions of interesting words, you have an irrepressible desire to expand your vocabulary. You just can’t stop! Irrepressible comes from the word repress, which means "restrain" or "reject." If you have a desire to become an actor but are worried about financial security, you might repress your calling for the stage and opt for law school instead. However, some desires are simply irrepressible. If you ignore your urge to be onstage, watch out; we predict that one day you’ll find yourself delivering a Shakespearean monologue to a very confused jury.
Vocabulary lists containing irrepressible
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -able, -ible
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Anna Karenina
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The visitors were 59-1 at lunch, leading by 99, with Duckett on 28 and Pope not-out 24, digging in after the irrepressible Mitchell Starc again pounced in the first over.
From Barron's • Nov. 22, 2025
The irrepressible funny man is using this difficult moment to take to the stage, offering a candid look at how his life has changed as he fights cancer.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2025
She will be remembered as an irrepressible gossip, whose enormous sales caused some to overlook her enviable skills as a writer.
From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025
His reputation made him out to be the natural talent, who played with irrepressible joy and boundless creativity, but sometimes fell victim to lapses in concentration.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 9, 2025
I could tell that his interest, like that of the irrepressible Mr. Hofacket, was genuine.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
