refouler

The French verb refouler has several related meanings, mostly centered around the idea of pushing back or repressing.

Meaning

1. To push back or repel physically
   In a literal sense, refouler means to push something or someone back, to hold back physical movement. For example, in a crowd that is being pushed backward, people are refoulés.

   • Exemple: "La police a refoulé la foule dehors."
     (The police pushed the crowd outside.)

2. To repress or suppress psychologically or emotionally
   More figuratively, it means to repress feelings, desires, memories, or impulses—keeping them out of conscious awareness. This psychological sense is quite common.

   • Exemple: "Il refoule sa tristesse."
     (He represses his sadness.)

Word Parts

• re-: a prefix meaning "back" or "again"
• -fouler: the verb fouler means "to step on," "to tread," or "to trample." So literally, refouler can be understood as "to step back on" or "to press back," which aligns with both literal and figurative meanings.

Synonyms in French

• For physical pushing back:

  • repousser (to push away/back)
  • chasser (to chase away)

• For psychological repression:

  • réprimer (to repress)
  • supprimer (to suppress)
  • cacher (to hide)

Antonyms in French

• For physical meaning:

  • laisser entrer (to let in, to allow)
  • avancer (to advance, move forward)

• For psychological meaning:

  • exprimer (to express)
  • afficher (to show openly)

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Summary:
Refouler means to push back physically or to repress emotions or memories mentally. It combines "re-" (back) + "fouler" (to tread on), and is used both in literal and figurative contexts with several synonyms and antonyms depending on the sense.