suppressant

noun

sup·​pres·​sant sə-ˈpre-sᵊnt 

: an agent (such as a drug) that tends to suppress or reduce in intensity rather than eliminate something

Examples of suppressant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The widespread use of certain chemical or synthetic fire suppressants may be leading to heavy metal contamination in wildfire-prone areas, a new study has found. —Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024

This category includes drugs advertised as cough suppressants (e.g., dextromethorphan, which is supposed to lower the frequency of cough) or expectorants (e.g., guaifenesin, which theoretically helps make coughing more effective at getting the gunk out). —Keren Landman, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Officials are also sprinkling roads with water and dust suppressants, and ramping up road sweeping. —Helen Regan, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024

The Portland fire was quickly put out by an internal fire suppressant inside the ballot box. —Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

suppressant

noun

sup·​pres·​sant sə-ˈpres-ᵊnt 

: an agent (as a drug) that tends to suppress or reduce in intensity rather than eliminate something

a cough suppressant

Medical Definition

suppressant

1 of 2 adjective

sup·​press·​ant sə-ˈpres-ᵊnt 

: suppressive

suppressant

2 of 2 noun

: an agent (as a drug) that tends to suppress or reduce in intensity rather than eliminate something

a cough suppressant