suppress
suh-PRESS
/səˈpres/
To forcibly put an end to, restrain, or prevent the publication or expression of something.
Implies active, heavy-handed exertion of authority to keep something down or hidden.
The story behind the word. Originates from Latin 'suppressus', past participle of 'supprimere', built from 'sub-' (under) and 'premere' (to press). The word literally means 'to press down under.' Historically used for physical crushing, it evolved into political terminology for holding down ideas.
Word relationships
- stifle: Stifle implies smothering or suffocating expression before it grows; suppress emphasizes applying force to keep it down.
- quell: Quell usually applies to putting down violent riots or rebellions directly.
- encourage: Encourage fosters expression or development.
- promulgate: Promulgate broadcasts and makes laws or ideas widely known.
Commonly confused with
- oppress: Oppress means burdening people harshly over time; suppress means forcing specific news, ideas, or actions to stop.
Word family
- suppression (noun): The act of suppressing or being suppressed.
- suppressive (adjective): Tending to suppress.
Collocations
- suppress news
- suppress evidence
- suppress rebellion
- suppress emotions
Idioms & expressions
- keep under wraps
- sit on information
Example sentences
- "To suppress truth is to give strength to falsehood; every attempt to prohibit knowledge only reveals the tyrant's fear." Autobiographical speech
- "The military regime attempted to suppress all news reports regarding domestic opposition." Journalistic freedom
Memory hook
SUP (under) + PRESS (push down) = pressing down from above to keep underneath. Pressing down forcefully to keep content hidden.
When not to use
Avoid using for casual, natural forgetting; suppress requires intentional containment or force.
Fun facts
- Psychological suppression is a conscious effort to push thoughts away, whereas psychological repression happens automatically in the subconscious mind.
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