noun

suppression

suh-PRESH-un/səˈpreʃn/

The act or effect of stopping or holding something back.

Blackening the report's lines enables suppression of the information they contain.

Official redacts lines of report with thick black marker, hiding information; legible heading REPORT only.

Etymology

supLatinunder, down

+pressLatinto press, hold fast

+ionLatinact or process

Pressing down supplies the image behind this action noun. It extends from crushing or quelling something by force to holding back speech, publication, or disclosure.

In context

Essential Truth4:03

something like suppression or repression because if you you know if you don't know how to be aggressive in a sophisticated way you're still going to be aggressive but you're going to have to inhibit it control yourself

Jordan Peterson: The Id, Ego, and Superego

More examples

The judge investigates the suppression of evidence.
Suppression of the immune system can increase infection risk.
The building has an automatic fire suppression system.

Forms

suppression · suppressions

suppress verb — To stop or hold something back.

suppressive adjective — Tending to restrain or prevent activity.

Similar words

restraint: Limits activity without necessarily stopping it completely.
repression: Often describes forceful control of people or unwanted feelings.
inhibition: Often describes slowing a process or holding back behavior.