suppress

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

suppress — 動詞

  • 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

鎮壓

用武力或權力制止

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.

Mizuki 將軍的部隊在四十八小時內鎮壓了叛亂，恢復了該地區的平靜。

collocation: suppress + rebellion / uprising

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

政府鎮壓了那家報社，因為它刊登了官員貪腐的報導。

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

壓抑；抑制

阻止顯露、表達或發展

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.

Adina 在典禮上試圖壓抑笑意，但還是忍不住笑了出來。

collocation: suppress + laughter / emotion

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

該公司隱瞞了測試結果，因為數據顯示有嚴重的安全問題。

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.