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refouler

to push back

verb ruh-foo-LEH Rare
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Also means

to repress

Usage Note

Refouler has two distinct registers: physically, it means to push or force back (refouler des migrants — to turn back migrants); psychologically, from Freudian vocabulary, it means to repress a feeling or memory (refouler ses émotions). The noun refoulement is used in both international law (forced return of refugees) and psychoanalysis.

Examples

"Elle refoulait ses larmes depuis le matin."

Natural Translation

She had been holding back her tears since morning.

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