suppress

[suh-pres] / səˈprɛs /

VERB

restrain, hold in check

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish censor conceal contain cover up crack down on crush curb cut off muzzle overcome overthrow put an end to put down quash quell quench repress silence snuff out stamp out stifle subdue withhold

STRONG

annihilate bottle burke check clamp conquer extinguish interrupt muffle overpower shush smother spike squash stop trample

WEAK

beat down bring to naught hold back hold down hold in keep in keep secret put kibosh on put lid on sit on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid allow assist build up compliment encourage give in help let go permit praise release sanction start support surrender yield

STRONG

light open

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The female flies only mate once, so sterilized males help suppress the population.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

El Niño also tends to suppress Atlantic hurricanes, and forecasters already expect a quieter-than-average season.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

El Nino can also suppress the monsoon over South Asia, depriving India and other parts of the subcontinent of vital rain that supports hundreds of millions of people.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Researchers currently believe these combined effects may help suppress the development of breast cancer.

From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026

She bent over backward not to be negative, but she had a view of students she could not suppress.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Vocabulary lists containing suppress

The Giver

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Animal Farm

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The Maze Runner

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!