suppressant

noun

sup·​pres·​sant sə-ˈpre-sᵊnt How to pronounce suppressant (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It is also used in combination with other ingredients, such as the cough suppressant dextromethorphan and the pain reliever acetaminophen in Dayquil, for example. Alex Yampolsky, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2025 The company’s drones, which have already seen use in Ukraine to carry cargo, have a wingspan of 30 feet and can work in swarms to monitor large swaths of land for wildfires and drop flame suppressants. Alexandra Byrne, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2025 Expectorants break up mucus, and cough suppressants block the cough reflex. Emily Dashiell, Verywell Health, 12 Dec. 2024 And as scrutiny of fire suppressants has grown, the Forest Service has set buffer zones surrounding lakes and rivers, though its own data shows retardant still inadvertently drifts into those waters. Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suppressant

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of suppressant was in 1884

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suppressant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suppressant. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

suppressant

noun
sup·​pres·​sant sə-ˈpres-ᵊnt How to pronounce suppressant (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce suppressant (audio)

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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