1
as in silencing
to keep from being publicly known
the government tried to suppress the truth about that incident
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifling
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
he managed to suppress a scream at the sight of the dead mouse suppressed her anger
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in halting
to hold back the normal growth of
pruning helps suppress buds at the ends of developed branches and encourages new growth elsewhere
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in quelling
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
nothing could suppress the rising tide of protest against the dictator's latest injustices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in concealing
to keep secret or shut off from view
the defense attorney is openly accusing the prosecutor of attempting to suppress vital evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suppressing
There’s plenty to like about both veteran pitchers and reason to believe that competing in a home run-suppressing environment will allow their attributes to play up.
—
Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Foulk argued Barrett was suppressing evidence by preventing the state from presenting certain tax returns and Illinois Department of Revenue testimony.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Your weapons are for defending the nation, not suppressing it.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
In 1866, ownership was turned over to Prince Domenico Rosso di Cerami following a new Italian law suppressing religious orders.
—Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2026
Instead of sleeping in, the birds were up at their regular time, moving around in the dark while suppressing their song.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
The brain sometimes responds to illness by suppressing appetite.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025
The sides also agreed to cooperate in suppressing transnational crimes.
—CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025
As Charlotte explains, barely suppressing her resentment, Leroy is concerned that her commitment to the cause could stall his ascent at work.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suppressing
Verb
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Trump’s immigration policies don’t make sense as a pro-worker agenda, but do make sense as a way of silencing dissent and keeping out nonwhite immigrants.—
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Students have been instructed to continue sheltering in place until further notice, locking doors and silencing phones.—
Verb
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Moore’s task against Indiana’s stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.—
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The immense costs associated with the program have only worsened the economic situation, leading to a more stifling environment.—
Verb
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Their lack of insight into their adversaries’ intelligence capability makes these militiamen demonstrably ineffectual at halting intelligence breaches.—
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The Administration also scaled back mRNA vaccine projects aimed at advancing the development of countermeasures for public health emergencies, halting 22 projects worth nearly $500 million that involved contracts with major pharmaceutical companies such as Moderna and Pfizer.—
Verb
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This potency can be a good thing for quelling inflammation—but also calls for caution.—
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But the sentiment — quelling a craving, fueling a fervor, feeding the psychic hunger of a fanbase famished for reasons to celebrate ostentatiously — is applicable more broadly, too.—
Verb
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Low was fined $106,000 for concealing payments between his tech nonprofit and actor Alec Baldwin.—
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You're required to disclose all assets, income sources and recent financial transactions during the bankruptcy process, and attempting to transfer property to friends or family before filing, concealing income or lying on your bankruptcy petition can have big repercussions.—
Verb
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Any muscles used for movement — including those involved in speaking, chewing, swallowing, seeing, blinking, breathing and walking — can be affected.—
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To save humankind, a geophysicist living with early-onset Alzheimer’s is recruited to investigate the vast void swallowing the oceans.—
Verb
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Before the night was out, Germans began chipping away at the barrier, carrying off chunks of one of the symbols of the diminishing Iron Curtain.—
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Business leaders say that such policies risk accelerating an exodus of companies, diminishing the city’s commercial tax base, and ultimately affecting services and jobs essential to millions of New Yorkers.—
Verb
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As the representative for the armed wing of a human empire, you're tasked with subduing these Lovecraftian abominations and securing a foothold for humanity on alien worlds.—
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The past two months of mostly sideways churn within 3% of record highs for the S & P 500 has helped to rebalance the market, puncturing the aggressive sense of destiny around many AI plays, subduing some speculative misbehavior and allowing valuations to settle.—
Cite this Entry
“Suppressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suppressing. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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