suppress

verb

sup·​press sə-ˈpres 

suppressed; suppressing; suppresses

transitive verb

1

: to put down by authority or force : subdue

suppress a riot

2

: to keep from public knowledge: such as

a

: to keep secret

b

: to stop or prohibit the publication or revelation of

suppress the test results

3

a

: to exclude from consciousness

b

: to keep from giving vent to : check

suppressed her anger

4

obsolete : to press down

5

a

: to restrain from a usual course or action

suppress a cough

b

: to inhibit the growth or development of

6

: to inhibit the genetic expression of

suppress a mutation

suppressibility

sə-ˌpre-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

suppressible

sə-ˈpre-sə-bəl 

adjective

suppressive

sə-ˈpre-siv 

adjective

suppressiveness

sə-ˈpre-siv-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• burke
• cover (up)
• hush (up)

Examples of suppress in a Sentence

Political dissent was brutally suppressed.

The governor tried to suppress the news.

He struggled to suppress his feelings of jealousy.

She could not suppress her anger.

I had to suppress an urge to tell him what I really thought.

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Richard Seager, a climate scientist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the cause of the current drought is some random atmospheric variability: a high-pressure system over the central and eastern United States that is suppressing rainfall and refusing to budge. —M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024

How to cope right now Don’t suppress your emotions, process them In the immediate aftermath of the election results, you may be flooded with emotions ranging from despair to rage. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024

The work includes translating propositions into Navajo, educating young voters through cultural and traditional concepts, and navigating persistent obstacles that aim to suppress the Native vote, highlighting the power and influence of this voting bloc. —Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024

Similarly, many people have suppressed symptoms of an infection to engage in some sort of social obligation. —Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin suppressus, past participle of supprimere, from sub- + premere to press — more at press

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

suppress

verb

sup·​press sə-ˈpres 

1

: to put down by authority or force

suppress a rebellion

2

a

: to keep from being known

tried to suppress the news

b

: to stop the publication or distribution of

suppressed the test results

3

: to hold back : repress

suppress feelings of jealousy

suppressed a cough

4

: to slow or stop the growth or development of : stunt

suppressible

-ə-bəl 

adjective

suppression

-ˈpresh-ən

noun

suppressive

-ˈpres-iv 

adjective

suppressor

-ˈpres-ər

noun

Medical Definition

suppress

transitive verb

sup·​press sə-ˈpres 

1

: to exclude from consciousness

suppressed anxiety

2

: to restrain from a usual course or action

suppress a cough

3

: inhibit sense 2

suppresses the human immune response

—Josie Glausiusz

especially : to inhibit the genetic expression of

suppress a mutation

suppressibility

-ˌpres-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural suppressibilities

suppressible

-ˈpres-ə-bəl 

adjective

Legal Definition

suppress

transitive verb

sup·​press sə-ˈpres 

1

: to put down by authority or force

2

a

: to keep secret

b

: to stop or prohibit the publication or revelation of

3

a

: to exclude (illegally obtained evidence) from use at trial

suppress narcotics found in violation of the right against unreasonable search and seizure

b

: to fail to disclose (material evidence favorable to a defendant) in violation of due process

accused the prosecution of suppressing evidence

compare brady material

intransitive verb

: to suppress evidence

suppressible adjective

suppression

-ˈpre-shən 

noun