1
as in covers (up)
to keep from being publicly known
the government tried to suppress the truth about that incident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifles
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
he managed to suppress a scream at the sight of the dead mouse suppressed her anger
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in halts
to hold back the normal growth of
pruning helps suppress buds at the ends of developed branches and encourages new growth elsewhere
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in quells
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in conceals
to keep secret or shut off from view
the defense attorney is openly accusing the prosecutor of attempting to suppress vital evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 suppresses
Nieusma notes that calendula grows low to the ground, forming a ground cover that shades the soil and suppresses weeds.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 June 2026
Healthy soil retains more water, cycles more nutrients and suppresses more pests, all work that conventional operations purchase as fertilizer, irrigation and insecticide.
—
Tenzin Seldon,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Cardboard suppresses weeds, enriches soil, and is useful for new garden beds as sheet mulching or a base layer.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 June 2026
There is no reason to think that the money will flow to schools and hospitals or provide any benefit to the Iranian people that the regime still suppresses.
—
Daniel B. Shapiro,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
The pattern often suppresses Atlantic hurricanes while energizing storms in the eastern Pacific, shifting where tropical cyclone risks are highest.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Cycle syncing also doesn’t translate cleanly for women on hormonal birth control, which suppresses the natural cycle, or for those in perimenopause, when phases become irregular.
—
Allison Palmer
updated June 13,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2026
Pregnancy suppresses the immune system, and dozens of pregnant women or women who had recently given birth died from COVID in California.
—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2026
This suppresses weeds naturally, improves soil structure and moisture retention, breaks down over time, and feeds the soil.
—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
21 May 2026
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 June 2026
Healthy soil retains more water, cycles more nutrients and suppresses more pests, all work that conventional operations purchase as fertilizer, irrigation and insecticide.
—
Tenzin Seldon,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Cardboard suppresses weeds, enriches soil, and is useful for new garden beds as sheet mulching or a base layer.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 June 2026
There is no reason to think that the money will flow to schools and hospitals or provide any benefit to the Iranian people that the regime still suppresses.
—
Daniel B. Shapiro,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
The pattern often suppresses Atlantic hurricanes while energizing storms in the eastern Pacific, shifting where tropical cyclone risks are highest.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Cycle syncing also doesn’t translate cleanly for women on hormonal birth control, which suppresses the natural cycle, or for those in perimenopause, when phases become irregular.
—
Allison Palmer
updated June 13,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2026
Pregnancy suppresses the immune system, and dozens of pregnant women or women who had recently given birth died from COVID in California.
—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2026
This suppresses weeds naturally, improves soil structure and moisture retention, breaks down over time, and feeds the soil.
—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
21 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suppresses
Verb
-
Micromanagement stifles creativity, motivation, and productivity.
-
That stifles competition at home and, with China’s dependence on global consumption, raises concerns about dumping and deflation abroad.
Verb
-
Typically, bees stop laying eggs during the winter, or at least slow down activity, which represses mite activity.
-
The portrait of a woman who represses and conceals a rape struck a chord as the #MeToo movement took off and put Trobisch on the map.
Verb
-
The countywide legislation halts zoning and permitting processes for data centers and BESS sites in unincorporated areas of Jackson County for 180 days, which sponsor Sean Smith and other legislators have said will create time for the county to set more detailed permanent land use policies.
-
But the publishing machine never quite halts, and the coming months do star a (smaller) collection of exciting new releases.
Verb
-
Newsom has not said if the newer version of the bill quells this concern.
-
One way Recover quells concerns is through proof-of-concept collections with supply chain partners.
Verb
-
That statistic should be alarming, given that only about 30% of single-family homes in Chicago have central air, compared with 76% nationwide — an average that conceals a starker reality.
-
Paromita, a widowed teacher, conceals her loneliness behind the cover of duty and routine, while Shefali, a working wife, hides her bruises beneath concealer and silence.
Verb
-
Shame shrinks us and silences our stories.
-
An immersive spa day, from signature massages to holistic sessions, silences the noise.
Verb
-
Newspapers report it all, and the American citizenry swallows it whole.
-
In an ideal world, Blueger lines up as the middleman of an energetic fourth line that swallows up defensive-zone draws.
Verb
-
In most lakes oxygen content diminishes rapidly at depths below 35 feet.
-
None of this diminishes the responsibility of wealthy countries.
Cite this Entry
“Suppresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suppresses. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
