censoring
Cutting forbidden material
Censoring is the act of suppressing or removing content deemed objectionable, sensitive, or harmful.
Governments censor political speech; publishers censor profanity; platforms censor misinformation.
The term often carries negative connotations—implying overreach or suppression of free expression: They're censoring any criticism of the policy.
Self-censoring is holding back one's own words or thoughts.
Stopping noise or dissent
- gaggingReflex throat constriction
- muzzlingRestraining the mouth
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- suppressingForcibly restraining or inhibiting
hushing · quashing · squelching · chilling · repression · intimidation · prior restraint · dissent
Officially prohibiting something
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- filteringSelective passage of elements
blacklisting · redaction · expurgation · bowdlerization · sanitization · omission · embargo · injunction
Avoidance of excess
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
- platformRaised flat structure
- filteringSelective passage of elements
- flaggingLosing vigor progressively
takedown · shadowban · deplatforming · demonetization · terms of service · community guidelines · appeal · automation
Authority over a state
- regimeSystem of governance
- stateCondition or mode
- committeeAppointed group for duties
- boardFlat rigid panel
regulator · official · bureau · ministry · apparatus · watchdog · guardian · gatekeeper
Indecent word or act
- profanityVulgar or obscene speech
- nudityAbsence of clothing
- violenceHarmful physical force
- hate speechLanguage attacking protected characteristics
misinformation · blasphemy · sedition · indecency · explicit · objectionable · offensive · inappropriate
silencing
Stopping noise or dissent
suppressing · hushing · quashing · squelching · chilling · repression · intimidation · prior restraint · dissent · whistleblower
banning
Officially prohibiting something
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- blockingImpeding forward progress
filtering · blacklisting · redaction · expurgation · bowdlerization · sanitization · omission · embargo · injunction · curtailment
moderation
Avoidance of excess
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
- platformRaised flat structure
- filteringSelective passage of elements
flagging · takedown · shadowban · deplatforming · demonetization · terms of service · community guidelines · appeal · automation
government
Authority over a state
board · regulator · official · bureau · ministry · apparatus · watchdog · guardian · gatekeeper · commissar
obscenity
Indecent word or act
hate speech · misinformation · blasphemy · sedition · indecency · explicit · objectionable · offensive · inappropriate · sensitive
- concealmentconceal, hiding, concealing, concealed, hide
- cutting outtrimming, clipping, cropping, pruning, snipping
- research errorsmeasurement error, sampling error, systematic error, selection bias, confirmation bias
- silencingsilencing, muting, hushing, shushing, quieting
- editingediting, cut, copy, paste, delete
- mistreatmentbullying, harassing, intimidating, oppressing, humiliating
censoringpermitting
Giving consent or authorization
allowing · approving · authorizing · endorsing · sanctioning
censoringdisseminating
Spreading information broadly
releasing · broadcasting · disclosing · circulating · sharing