suppressant

IPA/səˈpresnt/
KK[səprˈɛsənt]IPA/səˈpresnt/

suppressant — noun

  • suppressantsingular
  • suppressantsplural

1. a drug or chemical that reduces the strength or effect of a natural body process

1.名詞C1
釋義

a drug or chemical that reduces the strength or effect of a natural body process or condition, such as hunger or coughing, without fully stopping it

例句

The doctor gave Yi-ting a cough suppressant so she could sleep without coughing all night.

cough suppressant — compound noun for a specific symptom

Kemi stopped taking the appetite suppressant because it gave her headaches.

appetite suppressant — compound noun for weight control

同義詞
  • inhibitor

    more specific to molecular or biological processes (enzyme inhibitor); used in biochemistry rather than general symptom relief

  • depressant

    specifically slows the central nervous system (e.g., alcohol); a narrower category that affects mood and awareness, not just any function

  • blocker

    stops a process completely (e.g., beta-blocker) rather than merely reducing its intensity

反義詞
  • stimulant

    a substance that increases activity or alertness rather than reducing it

  • activator

    a substance that triggers or accelerates a process rather than suppressing it

文法句型

[symptom] + suppressant

suppressant + drug

suppressant for [condition]

用法筆記

Frequently appears as the second half of a compound noun (cough suppressant, appetite suppressant, immunosuppressant) that names the bodily function being reduced. Do not confuse with 'blocker' — a blocker stops a process entirely, while a suppressant only lowers its intensity.

常見錯誤

❌I need a suppressant for my cold.
✅I need a cough suppressant for my cold.
💡In medical contexts, always specify which symptom the suppressant targets.
❌This pill is a fever suppressant.
✅This pill is a fever reducer.
💡Fever is treated with reducers or antipyretics, not suppressants.