Suppression

Suppression is the act of preventing something from being seen, heard, or expressed. It involves actively or passively holding back, restraining, or inhibiting the spread, existence, or function of something. This can be applied to ideas, emotions, information, or physical actions. The goal of suppression can vary, ranging from maintaining control and order to protecting individuals or groups from harm, or silencing opponents. Ultimately, suppression aims to limit the scope or impact of something, preventing it from being fully realized or experienced.

Suppression meaning with examples

• The government enforced the suppression of dissent by controlling media outlets and limiting public gatherings. Protests were quickly shut down, and critical voices were silenced, leaving citizens with little opportunity to express their concerns, showing how the power dynamics in society work. The goal was maintaining absolute control.
• Her therapy focused on the suppression of her traumatic memories, aiming to prevent them from resurfacing and causing further distress. By compartmentalizing the past, she hoped to live a more functional life. Although a controversial treatment, she wanted to keep herself safe from any triggers.
• Through aggressive lobbying, the pharmaceutical company pursued the suppression of generic drug competition to protect its profits. Patent laws were heavily enforced and loopholes were exploited to secure the future of the product, showing how capitalism functions. The result was expensive healthcare.
• The editor ordered the suppression of sensitive information from the report to avoid causing a public panic. National security and political relations were considered paramount, and protecting the public interest from negative impacts was the driving force of this decision. However, was it the right one?
• The athlete consciously practiced the suppression of his nervousness before the competition. He used breathing techniques and positive self-talk to calm himself and focus. It was a difficult task and took years of practice, but he had reached his goal of competing at the highest level.