suppress
Other forms: suppressed; suppressing; suppresses
To suppress something means to curb, inhibit, or even stop it. If the sound of your boss moving in his chair sounds like gas, you’re going to have to learn how to suppress your giggles.
In the strictest sense, suppress means to put an end to something by force, like a government that suppresses the right to free speech by shutting down the newspapers or the military suppressing an uprising by rebel forces. But we also use suppress in less serious terms to describe an attempt to muffle or stifle something, such as suppressing a sneeze in a quiet theater or suppressing your true emotions to not cause a teary scene.
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put down by force or authority“suppress a nascent uprising”
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synonyms:
conquer, curb, inhibit, stamp down, subdue
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types:
- show 13 types...
- hide 13 types...
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blink, blink away, wink
force to go away by blinking
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dampen, stifle
smother or suppress
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choke back, choke down, choke off
suppress
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hush, hush up, quieten, shut up, silence, still
cause to be quiet or not talk
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burke
get rid of, silence, or suppress
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silence
keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure
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quell, quench, squelch
suppress or crush completely
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muffle, repress, smother, stifle, strangle
conceal or hide
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shush
silence (someone) by uttering `shush!'
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choke, suffocate
suppress the development, creativity, or imagination of
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calm down, lull
become quiet or less intensive
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shout down
silence or overwhelm by shouting
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gag, muzzle
prevent from speaking out
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come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
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put out of one's consciousness
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control and refrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior
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types:
- show 7 types...
- hide 7 types...
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hold back, keep, keep back, restrain
keep under control; keep in check
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quench
electronics: suppress (sparking) when the current is cut off in an inductive circuit, or suppress (an oscillation or discharge) in a component or device
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choke
check or slow down the action or effect of
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hold
keep from exhaling or expelling
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confine
prevent from leaving or from being removed
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bottle up, inhibit
control and refrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior
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check, contain, control, curb, hold, hold in, moderate
lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
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reduce the incidence or severity of or stop
/səˈprɛs/
/səˈprɛs/
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Vocabulary lists containing suppress
In eleven interconnected stories inspired by her family in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Spain, and the United States, the author describes the lives of several generations of the Beléns.
In this first book of the Masterminds trilogy, a shocking secret about the safe and happy life in Serenity, New Mexico is revealed through the perspectives of five middle school students.
In this essay from the collection All Things Considered, the English novelist, philosopher, and critic shares his thoughts on books and articles that instruct readers on how to succeed. Read the full text here.
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