suppress

[suh-pres]

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.

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 formssup·pressed·ly

[suh-prest-lee, -pres-id-] /səˈprɛst li, -ˈprɛs ɪd-/, adverbsup·press·i·ble, adjectivesup·pres·sive, adjectivesup·pres·sive·ly, adverbsup·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. 2018

Related Words for suppress

subdue, quench, censor, curb, repress, muzzle, abolish, crush, quash, overthrow, overcome, quell, stifle, conceal, withhold, contain, silence, clamp, annihilate, muffle

Examples from the Web for suppress

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
Higher Israeli authorities are trying to suppress vigilantism.
Israelis and Arabs Shaken by the Aftershock of Teen Murders
Miranda Frum
July 7, 2014

Historical Examples of suppress

Linda tried hard but she could not suppress a chuckle: "Of course you would!"
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
Isabel could not at once suppress the gratified note which crept of itself into her voice.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown
I am not only to suppress the evil, but to evoke the good elements in my nature.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles
This growl he could not suppress; nor did the man-animal resent it by giving him a blow on the head.
White Fang
Jack London
You must suppress your gratitude, and endeavour to forget my forbearance in the matter of the bracelet.
Barnaby Rudge
Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for suppress

suppress

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
1. to reduce or eliminate (unwanted oscillations) in a circuit
2. to eliminate (a particular frequency or group of frequencies) in a signal
psychiatry
1. to resist consciously (an idea or a desire entering one's mind)
2. 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

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.

suppress in Medicine

suppress

[sə-prĕs′]

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.