suppress
Americanverb (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.
-
Genetics. to keep (a gene) from being expressed.
Let's say that future genetic engineers discover a gene for suicidal depression, and learn how to suppress the gene or adjust it.
-
Electricity. to reduce or eliminate (an irregular or undesired oscillation or frequency) in a circuit.
verb
-
to put an end to; prohibit
-
to hold in check; restrain
I was obliged to suppress a smile
-
to withhold from circulation or publication
to suppress seditious pamphlets
-
to stop the activities of; crush
to 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
-
Other Word Forms
- nonsuppressive adjective
- nonsuppressively adverb
- nonsuppressiveness noun
- presuppress verb (used with object)
- resuppress verb (used with object)
- self-suppressing adjective
- self-suppressive adjective
- suppresser noun
- suppressible adjective
- suppressive adjective
- suppressively adverb
- suppressor noun
- unsuppressible adjective
- unsuppressive adjective
Etymology
Origin of suppress
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English suppressen, from Latin suppressus (past participle of supprimere “to press down”), equivalent to sup- sup- + pressus ( press 1 )
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.
"We have observed in earlier studies that visual processes in the brain are suppressed by this receptor," says Callum White, first author of the study.
From Science Daily
Puberty blockers - which suppress the hormones that cause puberty - are often prescribed to children questioning their gender as a way of stopping physical changes such as breast development or facial hair.
From BBC
Inventory remains suppressed in large part because the vehicle production shortages of 2020-22 reduced the number of off-lease vehicles returning to dealer lots.
From MarketWatch
Antitrust law exists to protect consumers from firms that suppress competition, inflate prices or restrict access to goods and services.
Tarrant's lawyers, whose names are suppressed for security reasons, said his prison conditions were unlike anything else in the system.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
