suppression
- 01 C1 Advanced
the act of using force to stop something from happening or being known.
the forceful prevention of an action, process, or the public disclosure of information.
Simple“The government was criticized for the suppression of free speech during the protests.”
In context“The systematic suppression of dissent within the occupied territories led to a significant humanitarian crisis that drew international condemnation.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the act of choosing to ignore or hide a difficult thought or feeling.
the conscious exclusion of painful or socially unacceptable impulses, thoughts, or memories from the mind.
Simple“The suppression of his anger eventually led to a lot of stress.”
In context“Psychologists distinguish between suppression, which is a conscious effort, and repression, which occurs at an unconscious level.”
Teacher's tipIn psychology, emphasize that suppression is a deliberate choice, unlike repression which is automatic.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
firing weapons at an enemy to stop them from moving or firing back.
tactical fire intended to degrade the performance of an enemy force below the level needed to fulfill its mission.
Simple“The squad provided suppression so their teammates could move to safety.”
In context“Effective suppression requires a high volume of accurate fire to ensure the enemy remains behind cover during the infantry advance.”
Synonymsneutralizationpinning down - 04 C1 Advanced
the act of stopping a natural process in the body, like an allergy or a cough.
the inhibition of a physiological process or the activity of an organ or system.
Simple“The medication resulted in the suppression of her immune system.”
In context“The clinical trial focused on the long-term suppression of viral replication in patients who had not responded to traditional therapies.”
SynonymsAntonyms
“A 2026 study identified a link between the amino acid leucine and appetite suppression through a connection between the gut and the brain.”
“The study reveals that this decline in WUE is primarily driven by PM 2.5 -induced suppression of photosynthesis—the process by which plants gain carbon—rather than changes in evapotranspiration (water loss).”
From Latin suppressiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.