suppression

noun

sup·​pres·​sion sə-ˈpre-shən How to pronounce suppression (audio)
1
: an act or instance of suppressing : the state of being suppressed
2
: the conscious intentional exclusion from consciousness of a thought or feeling

Examples of suppression in a Sentence

learned that suppression of her angry feelings didn't necessarily make them go away
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What is clear, however, is that his detention has become a rallying cry against the broader abuses of the immigration detention system, which critics argue has been transformed into a tool for political suppression. Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 What voter suppression tactics are being used here? Richard Boykin, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 Coupled with the eight-year war, the state suppression temporarily silenced the women’s movement. Narges Mohammadi, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025 The erasure and the suppression of more complete narratives have been going on for hundreds of years by those in power. Ellen Carpenter, AFAR Media, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suppression

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suppression was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Suppression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suppression. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

suppression

noun
sup·​pres·​sion sə-ˈpresh-ən How to pronounce suppression (audio)
: an act or instance of suppressing: as
a
: stoppage of a bodily function or a symptom
suppression of urine secretion
suppression of a cough
b
: the failure of development of a bodily part or organ
c
: the conscious intentional exclusion from consciousness of a thought or feeling compare repression sense 2a

More from Merriam-Webster on suppression

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