suppressing
Keeping it down
Suppressing is holding something down or keeping it from emerging.
You might suppress a rebellion, suppress evidence, or suppress a laugh.
The word often implies effort against a natural tendency—suppressing emotions means actively preventing their expression.
She couldn't help suppressing a smile.
Governments suppress dissent; immune systems suppress infections; people suppress memories they'd rather not revisit.
Officially disallowed
- forbiddenNot allowed
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- expressionConveyed thought or feeling
speech · press · media · books · internet · totalitarian · authoritarian · regime
Deaden or suppress sound
deaden · silence · stifle · soundproof · insulate · absorb · buffer · cushion
Emotional responses experienced internally
- tearsViolent pulls apart
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- urgeStrong inner drive
impulse · desire · memory · trauma · laughter · smile · sob · scream
Protected from harm
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- appetiteDesire for food
- feverElevated body temperature
- coughExplosive airway clearing
symptoms · tumor · hormone · cortisol · medication · therapy · treatment · immunosuppressant
Conceal or pelt
- maskFace-worn concealment
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- buryPlace beneath soil
- veilFabric that obscures
cloak · obscure · cover-up · camouflage · shroud · screen · obfuscate · eclipse
banned
Officially disallowed
expression · speech · press · media · books · internet · totalitarian · authoritarian · regime · propaganda
muffle
Deaden or suppress sound
soften · deaden · silence · stifle · soundproof · insulate · absorb · buffer · cushion · dull
feelings
Emotional responses experienced internally
urge · impulse · desire · memory · trauma · laughter · smile · sob · scream · outburst
immune
Protected from harm
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- appetiteDesire for food
- feverElevated body temperature
cough · symptoms · tumor · hormone · cortisol · medication · therapy · treatment · immunosuppressant · antihistamine
hide
Conceal or pelt
veil · cloak · obscure · cover-up · camouflage · shroud · screen · obfuscate · eclipse · enshroud
dominance
Superior influence over others
govern · enforce · coerce · dictate · subjugate · oppress · repress · tyranny · dominate · overpower
inhibit
To restrain or hinder
restrict · repress · check · contain · bridle · moderate · temper · control · regulate · subdue
- concealmentconceal, hiding, concealing, concealed, hide
- eliminatingeliminating, eradicating, wiping out, exterminating, abolishing
- reducingshrinking, lessening, diminishing, decreasing, cutting back
- restrainingconstraining, restricting, limiting, confining, curbing
- restraintrestricting, limiting, containing, curtailing, reining in
- silencingsilencing, muting, hushing, shushing, quieting
suppressingexpressing
Communicating thoughts outwardly
releasing · venting · voicing · unleashing · letting out
suppressingstimulating
Arousing interest or energy
encouraging · rousing · promoting · inciting · fostering
suppressingliberating
Setting free from constraint
freeing · emancipating · permitting · allowing · enabling
- vote suppressionDiscouraging or preventing casting ballots
- voter suppressionTactics discouraging ballot access
- fire suppressionControlling or eliminating flames
- suppressing fireGunfire restricting enemy movement
- wage suppressionArtificially limiting worker compensation
- suppressive fireShooting to restrict enemy movement
suppression, suppressive, suppressible, suppressions, unsuppressible