suppress

/səˈpres/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈpres/ (ame, ipa) · /sə-ˈpres/ (ame, mw)

suppress — verb

  • suppresspresent simple I / you / we / they
  • suppresseshe / she / it
  • suppressedpast simple
  • suppressing-ing form

1. to use military or official force to bring an end to a rebellion, protest, or po

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to use military or official force to bring an end to a rebellion, protest, or political activity that challenges a government or authority

例句

General Mizuki's troops suppressed the rebellion within forty-eight hours, restoring calm to the region.

collocation: suppress + rebellion / uprising

The government suppressed the newspaper after it published reports about official corruption.

collocation: suppress + a newspaper / publication

同義詞
  • crush

    stronger, implying complete and often violent destruction of the opposition

  • quell

    slightly more literary; focuses on calming or pacifying rather than destroying

  • put down

    phrasal verb, less formal; used in everyday news reporting

  • subdue

    implies bringing under control rather than necessarily ending the activity

反義詞
  • support

    to give help or approval to an activity or movement

  • encourage

    to give active approval or motivation to continue

文法句型

suppress + object (rebellion / protest / dissent / opposition)

用法筆記

Commonly used in political and military contexts. The subject is typically a government, regime, army, or other authority. Typical objects include rebellion, uprising, protest, dissent, and opposition.

常見錯誤

❌The school suppressed the noisy students in the hallway.
✅The school punished the noisy students in the hallway.
💡suppress is too strong for everyday discipline; use it for political or military force against organised opposition.
❌She suppressed the heavy suitcase up the stairs.
✅She carried the heavy suitcase up the stairs.
💡suppress does not mean to physically press down or lift; use it for ending activities or holding back feelings.

2. to prevent a feeling, piece of information, or natural process from being seen,

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to prevent a feeling, piece of information, or natural process from being seen, expressed, known, or developing

例句

Adina tried to suppress her laughter during the ceremony, but she could not stop.

collocation: suppress + laughter / emotion

The company suppressed the test results because they showed a serious safety problem.

collocation: suppress + information / results

同義詞
  • restrain

    more about physical or behavioural control; you restrain a person, not an emotion

  • inhibit

    more formal and often technical; common in psychology and biology

  • stifle

    carries a negative connotation of smothering something natural, like creativity or a yawn

  • conceal

    specifically about hiding information or objects; not used for emotions or biological processes

反義詞
  • express

    to show or communicate a feeling or emotion openly

  • release

    to make information or emotions available to others

  • encourage

    to promote the growth or development of something

文法句型

suppress + object (emotion / information / growth / memory)

用法筆記

Covers three main sub-contexts: (1) emotional — holding back feelings like anger, laughter, or tears; (2) informational — keeping reports, data, or news from public knowledge; (3) biological/medical — slowing or stopping natural processes such as growth, the immune response, or infection. Distinguish from sense 1 (STOP BY FORCE), where the object is an organised activity or group, not a feeling or hidden fact.

常見錯誤

❌I suppressed the heavy box onto the table.
✅I pushed the heavy box onto the table.
💡suppress does not mean to apply physical pressure downward.
❌The teacher suppressed the student's question.
✅The teacher ignored the student's question.
💡suppress requires active blocking, not simply not responding.