suppressed; suppressing; suppresses
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
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
The Chinese Foreign Ministry likewise blamed the United States for suppressing free speech by trying to ban the popular Chinese social media app TikTok.
—
David Shedd, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2024
Similarly, many people have suppressed symptoms of an infection to engage in some sort of social obligation.
—Sebastian Stockmaier, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2024
Another related figure is a $2.9 billion annual price tag spent to suppress wildfires by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior.
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
It can be used to stop a person’s immune system from mistakenly attacking their own body (that is, treatment of autoimmune disorders) and suppress harmful inflammation.
—New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suppress 
David Shedd, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2024
Similarly, many people have suppressed symptoms of an infection to engage in some sort of social obligation.
—Sebastian Stockmaier, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2024
Another related figure is a $2.9 billion annual price tag spent to suppress wildfires by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior.
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
It can be used to stop a person’s immune system from mistakenly attacking their own body (that is, treatment of autoimmune disorders) and suppress harmful inflammation.
—New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suppress
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suppress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near suppress
Cite this Entry
“Suppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suppress. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
Josie Glausiusz
especially
: to inhibit the genetic expression of
suppress a mutation
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
: to suppress evidence
suppressible
adjective
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