self-censorship
Biting your tongue
Self-censorship is the practice of suppressing or modifying your own speech, writing, or creative expression—typically to avoid controversy, punishment, or social disapproval.
Unlike external censorship imposed by authorities, self-censorship is voluntary, though often motivated by fear of consequences: Writers in authoritarian regimes practice self-censorship to stay safe.
The term sometimes carries criticism, implying excessive caution or cowardice: The newspaper's self-censorship on the scandal was shameful.
Obscuring sensitive text
- sanitizationCleaning to remove pathogens
- bowdlerizationSanitizing offensive literary content
- expurgationRemoval of offensive content
- softeningBecoming less firm
toning down · watering down · hedging · qualifying · euphemism · coded language · doublespeak · revision
Keeping from another
- omissionFailure to include
- unspokenNot verbally expressed
- untoldNot revealed or measured
- reticenceHabitual verbal restraint
taciturnity · non-disclosure · unarticulated · unvoiced · biting lip · keeping quiet · saying nothing · muteness
Discouragement through intimidation
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- consequencesResults of actions taken
retaliation · persecution · blacklisting · cancellation · ostracism · shunning · social pressure · groupthink
Mental check on behavior
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
holding back · biting tongue · second-guessing · filtering · measured · guarded · circumspect · cautious
Prohibited from access
- unspeakableBeyond verbal expression
- unmentionableToo shameful to discuss
- third railElectrified track conductor
- controversialCausing public dispute
politically incorrect · impropriety · transgressive · blasphemy · heresy · dissent · wrongthink · thought crime
redaction
Obscuring sensitive text
- sanitizationCleaning to remove pathogens
- bowdlerizationSanitizing offensive literary content
- expurgationRemoval of offensive content
softening · toning down · watering down · hedging · qualifying · euphemism · coded language · doublespeak · revision · deletion
withholding
Keeping from another
reticence · taciturnity · non-disclosure · unarticulated · unvoiced · biting lip · keeping quiet · saying nothing · muteness · voicelessness
chilling effect
Discouragement through intimidation
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- backlashStrong negative reaction
consequences · retaliation · persecution · blacklisting · cancellation · ostracism · shunning · social pressure · groupthink · conformity
inhibition
Mental check on behavior
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
willpower · holding back · biting tongue · second-guessing · filtering · measured · guarded · circumspect · cautious · calculated
off-limits
Prohibited from access
- unspeakableBeyond verbal expression
- unmentionableToo shameful to discuss
- third railElectrified track conductor
controversial · politically incorrect · impropriety · transgressive · blasphemy · heresy · dissent · wrongthink · thought crime · forbidden knowledge
- censorshipbanned books, banned, book banning, book bans, book burning
- press freedomfreedom of the press, press freedom, media freedom, press rights, editorial freedom
- speech chillinggag orders, prior restraint, cease and desist, whistleblower retaliation
- timiditybashfulness, shyness, timidness, timorousness, meekness
- pressnewspaper, press laws, free press, newsroom, press cards
- conformityconformity, conforming, conform, conformist, conformism
self-censorshipstate censorship
Government restricting public expression
government censorship · corporate censorship · content moderation · prior restraint · suppression
self-censorshipfree expression
Unrestrained communication of ideas
candor · outspokenness · transparency · full disclosure · free speech
self-censorshipfearlessness
Complete lack of dread
boldness · defiance · whistleblowing · dissent · provocation
self, censure, selfless, censor, censorship, censored, uncensored, censorious, censors