Come on, honey, you know where to find the answer: www.thefreedictionary.com/oppress www.thefreedictionary.com/repress www.thefreedictionary.com/suppress

Suppress has the "hold back, hold down, stop" overtone. Oppress has the "weigh down, burden" overtone. Repress has the "control--and physical control" overtone. Suppress means to hold back and stop someone from doing something. Ex The military suppressed the rebellion (stopped it/quelled it) Ex He suppressed his tears. (he stopped crying) Suppress has a neutral tone to it. Oppress means to be cruel to/weigh down with cruelty. Ex The government oppressed its citizens by overtaxing them. (the overtaxing weighs down the people and forces them into poverty.) Oppress has a negative tone to it. Repress means to try and control or suppress someone. Repress can mean the same as oppress or suppress. It can be negative or neutral, depending on the meaning.