suppression

noun

sup·​pres·​sion sə-ˈpre-shən 

1

: an act or instance of suppressing : the state of being suppressed

2

: the conscious intentional exclusion from consciousness of a thought or feeling

Synonyms of suppression

• restraint
• repression
• discipline
• inhibition

Examples of suppression in a Sentence

learned that suppression of her angry feelings didn't necessarily make them go away

Recent Examples on the Web

Proponents claim that an unfiltered apple cider vinegar shot each morning taken straight or diluted with water, can help with digestion, bloating, blood sugar control, appetite suppression, and give you a metabolism boost. —Emilee Coblentz, Outside, 8 Mar. 2026

The project is the one of the first instances in which the city of Los Angeles is using goat grazing on its public lands for fire suppression. —Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026

The Moreno Valley Mall closed roughly two weeks ago after inspectors found a lengthy list of fire code violations, mainly focusing on failure to provide documentation that the fire suppression system has been inspected, tested and maintained. —Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026

And then, in the spring of 2009, No One Knows About Persian Cats, a documentary about Tehran’s suppression-fighting underground rock scene. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for suppression

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression

Medical Definition

suppression

noun

sup·​pres·​sion sə-ˈpresh-ən 

: an act or instance of suppressing: as

a

: stoppage of a bodily function or a symptom

suppression of urine secretion

suppression of a cough

b

: the failure of development of a bodily part or organ

c

: the conscious intentional exclusion from consciousness of a thought or feeling compare repression sense 2a