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suppress
/səˈprɛs/
to forcibly stop or prevent something
The government tried to suppress the protest.
The government attempted to stop the protest from happening.
general
to forcibly stop or prevent something from being expressed, shown, or heard
She tried to suppress her laughter during the serious meeting.
She attempted to stop herself from laughing during the serious meeting.
Can be used both physically and metaphorically.
general
to control or reduce the intensity of something, such as emotions or physical reactions
He struggled to suppress his anger.
He had difficulty controlling his anger.
Often used in psychological or emotional contexts.
Law
formal
to deliberately prevent information from being made public
The court ordered the suppression of the evidence.
The court ruled that the evidence should not be made public.
Common in legal contexts.
Collocations
suppress a smileto stop oneself from smilingsuppress a yawnto stop oneself from yawningsuppress a coughto stop oneself from coughing
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'suppress' when referring to stopping something forcefully or controlling an emotion or reaction.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
In formal contexts, 'suppress' can refer to legal or authoritative actions, while in informal contexts, it often describes controlling emotions or reactions.
Word Origin
From Latin 'suppressus', past participle of 'supprimere', meaning 'to press down' or 'to hold down'.
Usage Notes
Can be used both literally and metaphorically. Often implies force or authority.
Word Breakdown
sup-
under
prefix-press
to press down
rootEnglish Dictionary