What does suppressible mean?
Suppressible means capable of being stopped, restrained, or prevented from being expressed or acted upon. It is most often used in formal and technical writing, particularly in psychology, neuroscience, medicine, and engineering. For example, a fear response might be described as suppressible if it can be controlled, while a signal may be suppressible if interference can prevent it from being detected. The word does not mean something that has actually been suppressed; it describes the possibility of doing so. Its related forms, including suppress, suppression, and suppressive, are considerably more common than the adjective itself. Understanding suppressible is useful when discussing the difference between an unavoidable impulse or reaction and one that can be inhibited through treatment, training, or conscious effort.
adjectiveCapable of being suppressed, restrained, or prevented from being expressed or acted upon.
- Able to be suppressed, restrained, or prevented from expression or action.
- Able to be held down or brought under control.
"The researchers sought to identify the neural mechanisms that make a fear response suppressible."
"The therapist helped him understand that his anger was not inevitable or entirely suppressible."
"Researchers are developing a treatment for suppressing the symptoms rather than the underlying disease."
Some thoughts feel unstoppable, but the mind can still exert a powerful veto over them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of suppressible
The word was formed in the 19th century from the English verb suppress, using the suffix -ible. Suppress comes from Latin comprimere, meaning 'to press down' or 'put down,' with the sense of pushing something beneath another action or keeping it from appearing. The Latin root also underlies cognates such as submission, transmission, and permission, all of which involve putting, sending, or allowing under a particular direction.
Related word forms
How suppressible is actually used
This is a relatively formal and uncommon adjective. It is especially used in scientific, psychological, and technical contexts, where it describes a response, signal, reaction, or behavior that can be inhibited or brought under control.