1
Core action
Prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.
Example
The regime tried to suppress peaceful dissent.
suppress
/səˈpres/ · suh-PRESSverb
Prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.
Use suppress to express this relationship precisely: prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.
What suppress Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
The drug suppresses the body's inflammatory response.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
Editors must not suppress evidence that challenges a conclusion.
Use suppress Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The regime tried to suppress peaceful dissent.
The drug suppresses the body's inflammatory response.
Editors must not suppress evidence that challenges a conclusion.
Precision Matters
Suppress overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
suppress
vs.Means prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.
proliferate
Means increase, multiply, reproduce, or spread rapidly in number or amount.
suppress
vs.Means prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.
promote
Means encourage, support, or contribute to the development, progress, growth, or acceptance of something.
suppress
vs.Means prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.
interpret
Means explain, understand, or assign meaning or significance to information, language, evidence, or events.
suppress
vs.Means prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.
stymie
Means prevent, obstruct, or seriously hinder progress toward a goal.
Test suppress in Context
The treatment restrains or stops the response from developing further.
1
The treatment is designed to ___ the excessive immune response before it damages healthy tissue.