self-censored
Held one's tongue
Self-censored describes speech or writing that has been modified or withheld by its creator to avoid controversy, offense, or consequences.
The censorship comes from the speaker rather than an external authority: The memoir was heavily self-censored to protect family members.
Someone who has self-censored has held back what they might otherwise say: I self-censored around my boss.
Held back by self-consciousness
- guardedWary and restrained
- restrainedHeld under control
- suppressedForcibly held down
- repressedHeld back from expression
filtered · withheld · silenced · muted · cautious · hesitant · reserved · blocked
Meeting accepted standards
- people-pleasingExcessive accommodation of others
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
- politeShowing good manners
appropriate · sanitized · softened · toned-down · palatable · inoffensive · acceptable · safe
Rendered unable to speak
- suppressedForcibly held down
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- fearfulFull of fright
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
strategic · coded · veiled · indirect · euphemistic · diplomatic · guarded · protective
Passage prevented or impeded
- stifledForcibly held in
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- dilutedMade weaker by adding liquid
- sanitizedCleansed of contaminants
tamed · watered-down · muted · softened · edited · revised · altered · modified
Screened to remove contaminants
- moderatedRestrained or supervised
- flaggedMarked for attention
- shadowbannedCovertly restricted online
- restrictedLimited in scope
edited · deleted · removed · sanitized · algorithmic · demonetized · suppressed · hidden
inhibited
Held back by self-consciousness
- guardedWary and restrained
- restrainedHeld under control
- suppressedForcibly held down
repressed · filtered · withheld · silenced · muted · cautious · hesitant · reserved · blocked · stifled
conforming
Meeting accepted standards
- people-pleasingExcessive accommodation of others
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
polite · appropriate · sanitized · softened · toned-down · palatable · inoffensive · acceptable · safe · filtered
silenced
Rendered unable to speak
- suppressedForcibly held down
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- fearfulFull of fright
cautious · strategic · coded · veiled · indirect · euphemistic · diplomatic · guarded · protective · calculated
blocked
Passage prevented or impeded
- stifledForcibly held in
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- dilutedMade weaker by adding liquid
sanitized · tamed · watered-down · muted · softened · edited · revised · altered · modified · restrained
filtered
Screened to remove contaminants
- moderatedRestrained or supervised
- flaggedMarked for attention
- shadowbannedCovertly restricted online
restricted · edited · deleted · removed · sanitized · algorithmic · demonetized · suppressed · hidden · blocked
self-censoredbanned
Officially disallowed
silenced · redacted · suppressed · muzzled · prohibited
self-censoreduncensored
Without removed content
unfiltered · uninhibited · unrestrained · unrestricted · unbridled
self-censoredoutspoken
Freely expressing opinions
candid · forthright · frank · blunt · plainspoken
self, censor, selves, selfish, selfhood, selfless, selfishly, selflessness, censors