Meaning & use
irrepressible
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Too lively or joyful to be held back or kept quiet.
Grammar: Usually describes positive energy and comes before a noun: irrepressible laughter.
Patterns
- an irrepressible urge to do something
- irrepressible enthusiasm
The irrepressible toddler giggled all through the service.
She had an irrepressible love of life.
Their irrepressible laughter filled the hall.
adjectivecomparable
Impossible to hold down or stop, used for strong feelings or forces.
Grammar: Used for emotions or impulses that burst out: an irrepressible urge.
Patterns
- an irrepressible urge
He felt an irrepressible urge to dance.
Her irrepressible curiosity led her to the old attic.
An irrepressible grin spread across his face.
Word forms
| comparative | more irrepressible |
|---|---|
| superlative | most irrepressible |
Common combinations
- irrepressible energy
- The puppy had irrepressible energy.
- irrepressible urge
- She felt an irrepressible urge to laugh.
- irrepressible spirit
- His irrepressible spirit cheered everyone.
- irrepressible optimism
- Her irrepressible optimism got her through hard times.
- irrepressible humor
- The comedian's irrepressible humor won over the crowd.
Synonyms and how they differ
- exuberant
- Exuberant stresses joyful overflowing energy, while irrepressible emphasizes that it cannot be stopped.
- buoyant
- Buoyant suggests a cheerful mood that bounces back, which is gentler than irrepressible.
- uncontainable
- Uncontainable is more literal and often used for crowds, laughter or emotions that burst out.
- unstoppable
- Unstoppable is about not being halted, but does not suggest a lively personality in the same way.
Opposites
Word family
- repress verb
- to hold back a feeling or action
- repression noun
- the act of holding back or controlling
- irrepressibly adverb
- in a way that cannot be held back
Commonly confused: irrepressible or irresistible? irrepressible or irreplaceable?
irrepressible vs irresistible
Irresistible means too attractive to refuse, while irrepressible means too lively to hold back.
irrepressible vs irreplaceable
Irreplaceable means impossible to replace, which is unrelated in meaning.
Practice
The comedian's ___ humor could not be kept down, even when the microphone failed.
Choose one answer.
Irrepressible means impossible to hold back. Irresistible means hard to refuse and does not match the idea of being kept down.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “irrepressible”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.