suppress

[ suh-pres ]

/ səˈprɛs /

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See synonyms for: suppress / suppressed / suppresses / suppressing 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.

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.

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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 (see press¹)

OTHER WORDS FROM suppress

sup·press·i·ble, adjectivesup·pres·sive, adjectivesup·pres·sive·ly, adverbsup·pres·sor, sup·press·er, noun

non·sup·pres·sive, adjectivenon·sup·pres·sive·ly, adverbnon·sup·pres·sive·ness, nounpre·sup·press, verb (used with object)re·sup·press, verb (used with object)self-sup·press·ing, adjectiveself-sup·pres·sive, adjectiveun·sup·press·i·ble, adjectiveun·sup·pres·sive, adjective

Words nearby suppress

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use suppress in a sentence

Hysteria in women, another excuse to suppress their sexuality, became shell-shock for men.
How colonialism and capitalism helped place a stigma on mental illness|Balaji Ravichandran|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
The goal of eliminating every smallpox case in the world, rather than just suppressing the virus, sounded implausibly lofty.
Smallpox used to kill millions of people every year. Here’s how humans beat it.|Kelsey Piper|February 5, 2021|Vox
In December, The Post revealed a series of Huawei-linked surveillance products that were marketed as being able to suppress potential protests or predict individuals’ ethnicities.
Huawei official speaks out on why he resigned after The Post reported the tech giant had worked on a ‘Uighur alarm’|Drew Harwell|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
Efficacy is a consideration for patients whose underlying cancer or treatment suppresses their immune systems.
Are the coronavirus vaccines safe for someone with cancer, dementia or MS?|Judith Graham|January 31, 2021|Washington Post

In the movie, Wendy tells us the drug “suppressed my appetite and gave me all the chemical courage I thought I needed.”
Wendy Williams seems like the perfect Lifetime movie subject. So why is it so unsettling to watch?|Bethonie Butler|January 31, 2021|Washington Post
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
The AG and his allies have claimed that voter ID laws suppress black votes.
Hey, Eric Holder: Voter ID Isn't Stuck in 1965|Ron Christie|August 12, 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
I do not know how things are in America but in England there has been a ridiculous attempt to suppress Bolshevik propaganda.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
A cry I was quite unable to suppress escaped me, and the creature turned on the instant and stared at me with baleful eyes.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
I cannot suppress the sharp reply that springs to my lips: "The low servant girl is as good as you."
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
I could die now, but they would suppress my explanation, and the People thus remain ignorant of my aim and purpose.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
Suppress with a single blow all the poetry in verse, or else speak with esteem of those who possess the secrets.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life|Thophile Gautier

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 forms of suppress

suppresser, 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

suppress

Origin of suppress

OTHER WORDS FROM suppress

Words nearby suppress

Words related to suppress

How to use suppress in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for suppress

Derived forms of suppress

Word Origin for suppress