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

• 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

The fire suppression efforts involve five engines, one water tender, two dozers and one hand crew. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2025

But the Democratic Party seems to prefer a selective vision of free speech, one that ignores the most glaring and visible current example of suppression. —Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025

The congressional investigation has also examined allegations of information suppression between intelligence agencies and between the executive branch and Congress. —Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025

These groups of workers include those involved in law enforcement and emergency response, border and coastal protection, fire suppression, and public health and safety, among other categories. —Connor Greene, Time, 2 Oct. 2025

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