suppress

[ suh-pres ]

/ səˈprɛs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR suppress ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to put an end to the activities of (a person, body of persons, etc.): to suppress the Communist and certain left-leaning parties.

to do away with by or as by authority; abolish; stop (a practice, custom, etc.).

to keep in or repress (a feeling, smile, groan, etc.).

to withhold from disclosure or publication (truth, evidence, a book, names, etc.).

to stop or arrest (a flow, hemorrhage, cough, etc.).

to vanquish or subdue (a revolt, rebellion, etc.); quell; crush.

Electricity. to reduce or eliminate (an irregular or undesired oscillation or frequency) in a circuit.

Nearby words

Origin of suppress

1375–1425; late Middle English suppressen < Latin suppressus (past participle of supprimere to press down), equivalent to sup- sup- + pressus (see press¹)

Related forms

sup·pressed·ly

[suh-prest-lee, -pres-id-] /səˈprɛst li, -ˈprɛs ɪd-/, adverbsup·press·i·ble, adjectivesup·pres·sive, adjectivesup·pres·sive·ly, adverb

sup·pres·sor, sup·press·er, nounnon·sup·pressed, adjectivenon·sup·pres·sive, adjectivenon·sup·pres·sive·ly, adverbnon·sup·pres·sive·ness, nounpre·sup·press, verb (used with object)qua·si-sup·pressed, adjectivere·sup·press, verb (used with object)self-sup·press·ing, adjectiveself-sup·pres·sive, adjectiveun·sup·pressed, adjectiveun·sup·press·i·ble, adjectiveun·sup·pres·sive, adjectivewell-sup·pressed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for suppress

Ironic, since it was originally meant to suppress sugar lust.
One Cake to Rule Them All: How Stollen Stole Our Hearts|Molly Hannon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But not even the threat of death can suppress the urge to live vicariously through Jack Dawson and James Bond.
North Korea’s Secret Movie Bootleggers: How Western Films Make It Into the Hermit Kingdom|Lizzie Crocker|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, according to some research, higher insulin levels have been shown to suppress fat metabolism by up to 22 percent.
Does Fasted Cardio Really Burn More Fat?|DailyBurn|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the 21st century, however, we suppress the magic of it and succumb to the fear of it.
Twin Disasters Turn 2014 Into the Year of Flying Dangerously|Clive Irving|July 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Higher Israeli authorities are trying to suppress vigilantism.
Israelis and Arabs Shaken by the Aftershock of Teen Murders|Miranda Frum|July 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As all the bishops in Spain were ordered to publish this brief, the Inquisition could not suppress it, however humiliating it was.
A History of the Inquisition of Spain; vol. 3|Henry Charles Lea
“You quite enlighten me on the subject,” observed Oriel Porphyry, endeavouring to suppress a laugh.
Lady Eureka, v. 2 (of 3)|Robert Folkestone Williams
The uncontrolled eccentricities of the matured do so much harm, that it is found necessary to suppress them.
The Modern Malady|Cyril Bennett
Yet she plainly could not resign herself or suppress her passion.
Swift|Leslie Stephen
Her chin was in the air, she was heaving, shaking and strangling to suppress any sound.
A Girl Of The Limberlost|Gene Stratton Porter

British Dictionary definitions for suppress

suppress

/ (səˈprɛs) /

verb (tr)

to put an end to; prohibit

to hold in check; restrainI was obliged to suppress a smile

to withhold from circulation or publicationto suppress seditious pamphlets

to stop the activities of; crushto suppress a rebellion

electronics

to reduce or eliminate (unwanted oscillations) in a circuit
to eliminate (a particular frequency or group of frequencies) in a signal

psychiatry

to resist consciously (an idea or a desire entering one's mind)
to exercise self-control by preventing the expression of (certain desires)Compare repress (def. 3)

Derived Formssuppresser, nounsuppressible, adjective

Word Origin for suppress

C14: from Latin suppressus held down, from supprimere to restrain, from sub- down + premere to press

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for suppress

suppress

late 14c., "to put down by force or authority," from Latin suppressus, past participle of supprimere "press down, stop, check, stifle," from sub "down, under" (see sub-) + premere "push against" (see press (v.1)). Sense of "prevent or prohibit the circulation of" is from 1550s. Related: Suppressed; suppressing.

Medicine definitions for suppress

suppress

[ sə-prĕs′ ]

v.

To curtail or inhibit the activity of something, such as the immune system.

To deliberately exclude unacceptable desires or thoughts from the mind.

To reduce the incidence or severity of a condition or symptom, such as a hemorrhage.

suppress

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of suppress

Examples from the Web for suppress

suppress

verb (tr)

Word Origin for suppress

suppress

suppress

v.