suppress

[suh-pres]

verb (used with object)

1. to put an end to the activities of (a person, body of persons, etc.).

   to suppress the Communist and certain left-leaning parties.

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

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

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

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

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

7. 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.

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

suppress

/ səˈprɛs /

verb

1. to put an end to; prohibit

2. to hold in check; restrain

   I was obliged to suppress a smile

3. to withhold from circulation or publication

   to suppress seditious pamphlets

4. to stop the activities of; crush

   to suppress a rebellion

5. electronics

   1. to reduce or eliminate (unwanted oscillations) in a circuit

   2. to eliminate (a particular frequency or group of frequencies) in a signal

6. 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

Other Word Forms

• suppresser noun
• suppressible adjective
• suppressive adjective
• suppressively adverb
• suppressor noun
• nonsuppressive adjective
• nonsuppressively adverb
• nonsuppressiveness noun
• presuppress verb (used with object)
• resuppress verb (used with object)
• self-suppressing adjective
• self-suppressive adjective
• unsuppressible adjective
• unsuppressive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suppress¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of suppress¹

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

Example Sentences

"My entire life, I had struggled with doubts about my masculinity and a suppressed desire to be seen as brave," he says.

Read more on BBC

“The United States has made a demand on SCE for payment of the costs and damages incurred by the United States to suppress the Saddleridge Fire and to undertake emergency rehabilitation efforts,” the complaint said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Former graduate student Nitsan Goldstein found that other critical survival states—such as thirst and fear—can also suppress long-term pain.

Read more on Science Daily

“Turning Point’s attack is part of an escalating effort by the far right to suppress the speech, teaching, and scholarship of faculty who do not conform to their movement’s politics,” the statement read.

Read more on Salon

A ministry spokesperson said in a separate statement Thursday that some entities had engaged in "so-called military-technical cooperation with Taiwan", made "vile remarks about China", and helped foreign governments suppress Chinese companies.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• abolish 
• censor 
• conceal 
• contain 
• crack down on www.thesaurus.com
• crush 
• curb 
• cut off 
• muzzle 
• overcome 
• overthrow 
• put an end to 
• put down 
• quash 
• quell 
• quench 
• repress 
• silence 
• snuff out