English Dictionary

IRREPRESSIBLE

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IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does irrepressible mean? 

IRREPRESSIBLE (adjective)
  The adjective IRREPRESSIBLE has 1 sense:

1. impossible to repress or controlplay

  Familiarity information: IRREPRESSIBLE used as an adjective is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


IRREPRESSIBLE (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Impossible to repress or control

Synonyms:

irrepressible; uncontrollable

Context example:

uncontrollable laughter

Similar:

uncontrolled (not being under control; out of control)

Derivation:

irrepressibility (irrepressible liveliness and good spirit)


 Context examples 


"Yet on the salt lake had he seen the fire-boat of iron that did not sink," cried out Zilla the irrepressible.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

He found Holmes leaning languidly against the mantelpiece, resigned and patient, endeavouring to conceal his irrepressible yawns.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Instead of which, that undignified creature answered, with an irrepressible sob, "Because you are going away."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

His was an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible effusion to a soothing friend—not an application to a parent.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Smoke the irrepressible related a story, and they descended into the steerage, bellowing with laughter.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Utterson heaved an irrepressible sigh.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The Sunday evening was spent in repeating, by heart, the Church Catechism, and the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of St. Matthew; and in listening to a long sermon, read by Miss Miller, whose irrepressible yawns attested her weariness.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

'Charge, Chester, charge!' is the motto for that table, but do your duty like men, and you'll get your money's worth of art in every sense of the word, said the irrepressible Jo, as the devoted phalanx prepared to take the field.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Elinor could have given her immediate relief by suggesting the possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother, rather than her own, whom they were about to behold; but instead of doing that, she assured her, and with great sincerity, that she did pity her—to the utter amazement of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself, hoped at least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Father, Mother, this is my friend, Professor Bhaer, she said, with a face and tone of such irrepressible pride and pleasure that she might as well have blown a trumpet and opened the door with a flourish.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." (English proverb)

"Mind the goats so that you will drink their milk." (Albanian proverb)

"If you wish, ask for more." (Arabic proverb)

"Don't postpone until tomorrow, what you can do today." (Dutch proverb)



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