From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpent-uppent-up /ˌpent ˈʌp◂/ adjective HIDE/NOT SHOWpent-up feelings or energy have not been expressed or used for a long time years of pent-up anger and frustration
Examples from the Corpus
pent-up• Years of pent-up anger and frustration came out as she cried.• And they are surprised to learn that boys who lack assertiveness often express their pent-up anger by being ineffectual.• Seventy years of empty store shelves have created great pent-up demand for consumer goods, including electronics.• The collapse of the Berlin Wall released a pent-up demand for consumer goods• A lot of pent-up emotion there, he thought.• This team has borne a lot of pent-up emotions.• Suddenly, as Sophie pulled into the drive of Broom House, her pent-up feelings collapsed into cold black depression.• All that pent-up rage, kicking the bicycle rack ... but proper competitors were supposed to be aggressive.• We did not exactly quarrel, but we started unloading pent-up resentments and frustrations.Origin pent-up (1500-1600) pent an old past participle of pen; → PEN12 