SUPPRESSING Synonyms: 184 Similar and Opposite Words

suppressing

verb

present participle of suppress

as in silencing

to keep from being publicly known the government tried to suppress the truth about that incident

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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

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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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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

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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

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of suppressing Many cope by masking or camouflaging — suppressing autistic traits in order to fit in. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 However, moderate levels enable the locus coeruleus to emphasize task-relevant information while suppressing background noise. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 It’s made with green tea to provide energy while suppressing your appetite, and goji berry to help your immune system. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Firefighters immediately began suppressing the fire, which needed additional water and foam because of how heavy the flames were, according to fire officials. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2026 Some popular advice suggests parents on appetite-suppressing medication simply not talk about it or offer vague statements about taking care of their health. — CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 Krishnan rightly points out that actively suppressing language ought to be condemned, but that suppression and obsolescence are wholly different. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Some treatments that can also increase the risk of infection include immune-suppressing therapy and medicine to decrease stomach acid levels. — Mark Strassmann, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 Forecasters blame the weather pattern on a strengthening El Niño, which is suppressing tropical waves that typically bring heavy rains to the island. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suppressing

Verb

Prosecutors caught the elder Spitze helping his son contact four minor victims to try silencing them with gifts or orders to destroy evidence.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026
Response to ‘silencing’ claims As part of the suit, the city filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of silencing

Verb

Mostly sunny skies are then expected through the work week, with stifling temperatures by mid-week, the forecast shows.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
Several horses collapsed from heat exhaustion after competing in stifling heat in the middle of the day during the cross-country phase of the eventing.

— Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of stifling

Verb

But the index has stayed within 2% of the peak, the pullbacks so far halting a handful of points above what had been the top of the former multi-month range.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Harris credited Aledo’s coaching staff for halting the Panthers' offense in the second half.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of halting

Verb

As Matt Reeves is hard at work in Gotham City, James Gunn is quelling some overeager fans about the timeline of the Batman trilogy.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
Aside from Spain’s progress in quelling the fires this week, there are still active fires in France to consider, since the particulate matter could continue drifting across large portions of its neighboring nation.

— T. Michelle Murphy, Time, 29 July 2026

Definition of quelling

Verb

Since then, the front portico of the building has been covered by a construction tarp, concealing most of its name.

— Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
The group is accused of diverting association dues, insurance, loan proceeds and collection revenues (others fees such as fines or special assessments) while concealing the flow of the money.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of concealing

Verb

Aguirre’s interviews are carefully edited with bleeps, censoring the ‘cabr—s’, the ‘hijos de p—s’ and ‘carambas’.

— Colin Millar, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Vance asserted that the 2020 election was rigged due to tech companies censoring information.

— Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2026

Definition of censoring

Verb

Popular media and Southern folklore frequently claimed that kudzu was swallowing 150,000 new acres every year and had overtaken anywhere from 7 to 9 million acres across the region.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026
The cause of the powerful torrents of floodwater that carved a devastating path through Nepal and Tibet — swallowing towns, roads and bridges — is not yet clear, but Nepal is a hotspot for climate disasters as the planet heats up.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of swallowing

Verb

But the war’s unintended consequences have spread far beyond the Middle East, affecting global security, diminishing America’s global standing, and potentially providing its adversaries with an opportunity to expand their influence.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
As more money and attention flow into the space, the challenge is how to capitalize on the cultural cachet of the Grand Slams without diminishing what made that access desirable in the first place.

— Jessica Schiffer, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminishing

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“Suppressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suppressing. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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