suppress

/sə'pres/

Học thuật

Thân thiện

A firefighter uses water to suppress the flames.

Definition

Verb:
- To end or stop something by force or authority: To put down or crush something, such as a rebellion, uprising, or activity.
- To restrain or hold back: To consciously prevent yourself from showing an emotion, desire, or physical reaction.
- To prevent something from being known, published, or circulated: To keep information, evidence, or a publication secret or from being distributed.
- To reduce the incidence, severity, or activity of something: To lessen or stop a physical process, symptom, or condition.

Usage and Examples

To end by force or authority:
- The army moved in to suppress the violent protest.
- The regime used harsh laws to suppress dissent.
To restrain or hold back:
- She tried to suppress her anger during the meeting.
- He suppressed a cough so as not to interrupt the speaker.
To prevent from being known or circulated:
- The newspaper was accused of trying to suppress vital evidence.
- The government suppressed the controversial report.
To reduce incidence or severity:
- This medication helps to suppress the allergic reaction.
- The software includes a feature to suppress background noise.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

Psychological suppression: In psychology, to consciously exclude unacceptable thoughts or desires from one's conscious mind.
- He tried to suppress the painful memory.
Technical suppression: In various fields like electronics or medicine, to inhibit a specific signal, process, or symptom.
- The firewall suppresses unwanted network traffic.

Variants and Related Words

Suppression (noun): The act of suppressing.
- The suppression of free speech is a serious concern.
Suppressive (adjective): Tending or serving to suppress.
- The treatment has a suppressive effect on the virus.
Suppressor (noun): A person or thing that suppresses. Often refers to a device that reduces noise or the intensity of something.
- He attached a suppressor to the rifle.

Synonyms

Subdue: To overcome, quieten, or bring under control.
Quell: To put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force.
Repress: Often used similarly to 'suppress', especially regarding emotions or desires; can also imply a more subconscious process.
Stifle: To restrain (a reaction, sound, or emotion); to smother.
Curb: To restrain or keep in check.

Phrasal Verbs / Common Constructions

Suppress a smile/laugh/yawn: To stop yourself from smiling, laughing, or yawning.
- The joke was so funny it was hard to suppress a laugh.
Suppress information/evidence: To prevent information or evidence from becoming known.
- The company was found guilty of suppressing evidence about the product's risks.

Related Idioms and Expressions

To suppress one's feelings/emotions: To not allow yourself to express what you are feeling.
- It's not healthy to constantly suppress your emotions.
To be suppressed by authority: To be controlled or kept down by a powerful group or government.
- For years, their culture was suppressed by the colonial authority.

A firefighter uses water to suppress the flames.

Verb

reduce the incidence or severity of or stop
- suppress a yawn
- this drug can suppress the hemorrhage
put out of one's consciousness
control and refrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior
come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
- The government oppresses political activists
to put down by force or authority
- suppress a nascent uprising
- stamp down on littering
- conquer one's desires

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