Definitions

pent-up

[pent-uhp] / ˈpɛntˈʌp /

ADJECTIVE

held within

Synonyms

STRONGEST

repressed stifled suppressed

WEAK

bottled-up bridled checked constrained curbed held in check held-back inhibited restrained restricted smothered

Antonyms

WEAK

public released

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When the jury took just over two hours to reach a guilty verdict on the afternoon of 23 March, the pent-up emotion in Belfast's Court 13 was released.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

They expect more buyers will return to the market once mortgage rates, which recently hit a nine-month high, come down and trigger pent-up buyer demand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

"There could be a pent-up demand," said Jelena Sokolova from investment research firm Morningstar.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

“It kind of siphoned all of that pent-up, closeted stuff that you hold back, that you couldn’t freely express,” she said.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

We all laughed, glad for the release of the pent-up tension.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez