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
Eight engines, four water tenders, five dozers and two hand crews have been working to suppress the fire.
—
Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
This ensures lithium is deposited smoothly across the anode, effectively suppressing dendrite growth even under rapid-charging conditions.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
These traditions have similar roots but evolved differently, shaped by the various ways African beliefs were suppressed across the New World.
—Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Kendra has claimed that suppressed childhood trauma led her to harass Lauryn and Owen.
—Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suppress
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show current usage.
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Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
This ensures lithium is deposited smoothly across the anode, effectively suppressing dendrite growth even under rapid-charging conditions.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
These traditions have similar roots but evolved differently, shaped by the various ways African beliefs were suppressed across the New World.
—Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Kendra has claimed that suppressed childhood trauma led her to harass Lauryn and Owen.
—Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suppress
Cite this Entry
“Suppress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suppress. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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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