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

• constraint
• continence
• discipline
• discretion
• inhibition
• refrainment
• repression
• reserve
• restraint
• self-command
• self-control
• self-restraint

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

The five former officers charged in the case were all members of the Memphis Police Department SCORPION unit -- a crime suppression unit that was disbanded after Nichols' death. —Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2024

Ultimate Fighting Championship and former fighters suing for wage suppression have reached a new deal to settle a class action accusing the MMA promoter of violating antitrust laws. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Sep. 2024

The five officers were members of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion unit, which was disbanded after Nichols’ death. —Jerry Askin, NBC News, 24 Sep. 2024

California’s wildfires are due to climate change and a century of fire suppression leading to unchecked growth — not because Northern California isn’t sending enough water elsewhere. —Robin Epley, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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