suppressive
Tending to quash
Suppressive describes something that suppresses—that holds down, restrains, or prevents expression.
A suppressive regime silences dissent.
Suppressive fire in military contexts keeps an enemy pinned down rather than destroying them directly.
Suppressive medication controls symptoms without curing the underlying condition.
The word appears wherever force or influence prevents something from emerging or acting freely.
Stopping noise or dissent
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
- gag orderCourt-imposed speech restriction
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- forbiddenNot allowed
taboo · book-burning · expurgation · bowdlerize · sanitization · information blackout · censor · embargo
Preventing or slowing action
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- subduingBringing under control
- quellingForcibly ending resistance
- dampeningReducing or wetting slightly
restraining · bottling up · denial · defense mechanism · trauma · avoidance · dissociation · compartmentalizing
Favoring absolute control
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
- tyrannicalExercising power unjustly
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
- despoticExercising absolute authority
draconian · coercive · heavy-handed · iron-fisted · domineering · autocratic · undemocratic · martial law
Weakens bodily defense system
- antiviralAgent blocking viral spread
- chemotherapyAnti-cancer drug treatment
- corticosteroidAdrenal-derived inflammation suppressant
- inhibitorAgent that slows reactions
antiretroviral · bone marrow · transplant rejection · cyclosporine · prednisone · cytotoxic · therapeutic · oncology
Unwelcome involvement in affairs
- filteringSelective passage of elements
- attenuationGradual intensity reduction
silencing
Stopping noise or dissent
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
- gag orderCourt-imposed speech restriction
- bannedOfficially disallowed
forbidden · taboo · book-burning · expurgation · bowdlerize · sanitization · information blackout · censor · embargo · purge
inhibiting
Preventing or slowing action
dampening · restraining · bottling up · denial · defense mechanism · trauma · avoidance · dissociation · compartmentalizing · unconscious
authoritarian
Favoring absolute control
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
- tyrannicalExercising power unjustly
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
despotic · draconian · coercive · heavy-handed · iron-fisted · domineering · autocratic · undemocratic · martial law · police state
immunosuppressive
Weakens bodily defense system
- antiviralAgent blocking viral spread
- chemotherapyAnti-cancer drug treatment
- corticosteroidAdrenal-derived inflammation suppressant
inhibitor · antiretroviral · bone marrow · transplant rejection · cyclosporine · prednisone · cytotoxic · therapeutic · oncology · remission
interference
Unwelcome involvement in affairs
- filteringSelective passage of elements
- attenuationGradual intensity reduction
- hostile attitudeshostile, aggressive, combative, belligerent, adversarial
suppressivepermissive
Tolerant, lacking strictness
liberating · freeing · liberal · tolerant · lenient
suppressiveencouraging
Giving confidence or hope
expressive · stimulating · fostering · thought-provoking · inspirational
suppressivenurturing
Supportive care-giving
fostering · promotive · supportive · benevolent · cultivating
- 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