refoulé
repressed, inhibited
adjective ruh-foo-LEH Rare
Origin: Past participle of 'refouler' (to push back), from 're-' + 'fouler'.
Usage Note
Refoulé is a Freudian/psychological term describing someone with repressed desires or emotions, popularized by psychoanalytic discourse in French. The feminine is refoulée. In everyday speech, calling someone un refoulé implies they are uptight or sexually repressed. The verb refouler also means to drive back a crowd or tide.
Examples
"Il est tellement refoulé qu'il ne montre jamais ses émotions."
Natural Translation
He is so repressed that he never shows his emotions.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
