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

supposition, suppositious, supposititious, suppositive, suppository, suppress, suppressant, suppressed carrier modulation, suppression, suppressive, suppressor

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

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

British Dictionary definitions for suppress

suppress

verb (tr)

Word Origin for suppress

Medicine definitions for suppress

suppress

v.