What does suppressing mean?
Suppressing means holding something back, preventing it from being expressed or communicated, or limiting its occurrence. People suppress anger, laughter, information, criticism, or dissent, while medicines or environmental conditions may suppress a fever, growth, or fire. The word often suggests deliberate control or concealment, so it can imply that something important is being silenced or prevented from taking effect. In a progressive form, such as “the company is suppressing costs,” it may be less negative and simply describe keeping something under control. As a gerund, “suppressing the truth” emphasizes the act of preventing disclosure. Suppressing is the present participle of suppress, a verb derived from Latin roots meaning to press down or keep from speaking. Its underlying image is physical: pressing something down until it cannot rise, speak, or spread.
verb (present participle/gerund)Suppressing means restraining, silencing, or preventing something from being expressed, published, or allowed to develop or occur.
- To restrain behavior, emotion, speech, or opposition.
- To prevent information, expression, or dissemination.
- To limit, halt, or reduce an activity or process, such as a fire, growth, or biological response.
"She struggled to suppress her anger during the tense meeting."
"The witness was accused of suppressing evidence."
"Repeated rainfall helped suppress the spread of the brush fire."
Suppressing comes from the image of pressing something down—literally silencing, restraining, or holding it back.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does suppressing come from?
Suppressing is the present participle of suppress, which comes from Latin suppressus, the past participle of supprimere, “to press down, stop, or keep from speaking.” The Latin verb combines sub- “under” with premere “to press.” English borrowed the word through Latin and Middle English traditions, while related English words such as compression, depression, expression, and impression preserve the shared root of pressing.
Related word forms
How suppressing is actually used
As a present participle, suppressing can function either as part of a progressive verb form, as in “is suppressing dissent,” or as a gerund, as in “suppressing dissent is no solution.” It commonly carries a negative or restrictive connotation.
Easily confused with suppressing
Suppressing means restraining or preventing something, whereas surprising means causing an unexpected reaction.