SUPPRESS Synonyms: 184 Similar and Opposite Words

suppress

verb

sə-ˈpres

Definition of suppress

as in to stifle

to keep from being publicly known the government tried to suppress the truth about that incident

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to swallow

to refrain from openly showing or uttering he managed to suppress a scream at the sight of the dead mouse suppressed her anger

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as in to halt

to hold back the normal growth of pruning helps suppress buds at the ends of developed branches and encourages new growth elsewhere

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as in to quell

to put a stop to (something) by the use of force nothing could suppress the rising tide of protest against the dictator's latest injustices

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as in to conceal

to keep secret or shut off from view the defense attorney is openly accusing the prosecutor of attempting to suppress vital evidence

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of suppress Communism is a system of government in which the ruling party controls major investment decisions while hoarding wealth for itself and suppressing all opposition. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 Patients who receive new organs must take medication to suppress their immune systems, which can lead to a recurrence if any cancer cells are left in the body. — Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026 Liquid protein is often easier to consume than a full meal when GLP-1 medications suppress hunger, making shakes a practical way to hit daily protein targets on tough days. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026 Enbrel partially suppresses the immune system, reducing damage from rheumatoid arthritis and five other diseases where the body attacks its own tissues. — Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for suppress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suppress

Verb

Cubans strolled along el Paseo del Prado promenade in the inky night, desperate to escape the stifling heat of their homes.

— Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
The outages come as some areas are expected to experience severe weather and stifling heat again on Saturday.

— Jon Haworth, ABC News, 5 July 2026

Definition of stifle

Verb

Chewing involves biting or gnawing without necessarily swallowing.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Among our favorites are Quince’s airy linen midiskirt (available in petite sizes) and Abercrombie & Fitch’s high-rise cotton midi, which has a flowy silhouette that feels light without swallowing a shorter frame.

— Malia Griggs, Glamour, 15 July 2026

Definition of swallow

Verb

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to halt more energy export routes from the Middle East in response to the US military reimposing a naval blockade of ships going to and from Iranian ports.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
In the wake of two fatal shootings days apart, Immigration and Customs Enforcement temporarily halted attempts to arrest undocumented immigrants by pulling them over in their cars.

— Cole Reynolds, Washington Post, 15 July 2026

Definition of halt

Verb

The security adjustments aren’t expected to quell Mexico’s World Cup fever.

— Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
The people ended up burning down the house of one of the tax collectors, prompting President George Washington to raise the first federal army against them and quickly quell the revolt.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Definition of quell

Verb

Missiles and launch vehicles can remain concealed until they are needed, limiting the time during which they are exposed to satellites, aircraft, and drones.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026
Even its bridal jewelry retains an element of discretion, including a small gold heart concealed inside certain bands and positioned close to the wearer.

— Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 14 July 2026

Definition of conceal

Verb

In China, state media has covered the cases comprehensively, but wider discussion about the prosecutions on Chinese-language social media like Rednote has been partially censored.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Aguirre’s interviews are carefully edited with bleeps, censoring the ‘cabr—s’, the ‘hijos de p—s’ and ‘carambas’.

— Colin Millar, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of censor

Verb

The government of husband-and-wife copresidents, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, has been carrying out an all-out crackdown on dissent since mass social protests in 2018 that the government violently repressed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
Normally, this modifier gene suppresses the creation of a second kind of hemoglobin, typically made only during fetal development; repressing the gene prompts cells to start making the fetal form of hemoglobin again, which acts as a backup.

— Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Definition of repress

Verb

Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
Kylian Mbappé’s powers were diminished in that tournament after sustaining a broken nose, while emerging stars like Michael Olise and Désiré Doué were yet to break through.

— James Robson, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026