suh-PRES
/səˈpɹɛs/
suppress is pronounced suh-PRES (/səˈpɹɛs/). Suppress means to put an end to something, often by force or authority, or to prevent a reaction or expression from becoming visible or known. It conveys active restraint, containment, or stifling of a feeling, action, or condition, typically over a period of time. The term is widely used in law, psychology, and everyday discourse to indicate deliberate suppression rather than passive lack of disclosure.
Suppress means to put an end to something, often by force or authority, or to prevent a reaction or expression from becoming visible or known. It conveys active restraint, containment, or stifling of a feeling, action, or condition, typically over a period of time. The term is widely used in law, psychology, and everyday discourse to indicate deliberate suppression rather than passive lack of disclosure.
"The government attempted to suppress dissent during the crisis."
"She suppressed a cough to avoid drawing attention."
"He tried to suppress his anger in the meeting."
Pronounce suppress as /səˈprɛs/ in most dialects. The stress is on the second syllable: su- PRESS. Start with a neutral schwa /ə/ in the first syllable, then the /pr/ cluster: lips start rounded for /p/ then move to the /r/ with the tongue curling slightly toward the alveolar ridge, followed by /ɛ/ as in 'dress' and final /s/. In careful speech, you can articulate /sə/ clearly before the /ˈprɛs/. Audio references: consult Cambridge or Oxford online dictionaries for speaker audio; listening blocks help verify the /ə/ to /ˈprɛs/ transition.
Common mistakes include pronouncing as /ˈsuːprɛs/ with a long /uː/ in the first syllable or saying /səˈprɛks/ with a final /k/. To correct, keep the first syllable as a quick /sə/ or /sə/ and ensure the second syllable carries the /ˈprɛs/ with a crisp /p/ into /r/ and final /s/. Avoid adding a vowel after /sə/ and don’t reduce the /pr/ cluster incorrectly; practice the /pr/ blend by starting with /p/ then quickly lifting to /r/ while keeping lips rounded for /p/** and the speed of transition is key.
In US and UK, the word is two syllables with stress on the second: /səˈprɛs/ (US) and /səˈprɛs/ (UK). The main difference lies in the vowels of the first syllable: US tends toward a less rounded /ə/ in fast speech, UK may show a slightly more centralized /ə/ or /ɪ/ in rapid talk. Australian English generally keeps /ə/ in the first syllable but may have a slightly more schwa-like quality and a softer /r/ in some speakers. Overall, rhoticity is minimal for this word in both US and UK; AU may exhibit less rhotic vowel coloring in connected speech.
The challenge is the /pr/ cluster and the abrupt /pr/ sequence followed by /ɛs/. The combination of a plosive /p/ with an immediate liquid /r/ creates a tight, difficult-to-articulate blend, especially when followed by /s/. Many speakers also inadvertently vocalize the first syllable, producing /ˈsuːprɛs/ or misplacing stress. Focus on a short, unstressed /ə/ before the /pr/ and a clean tap or release from /p/ into /r/ before the final /s/. IPA guide and slow practice help maintain precision across contexts.
The word has a straightforward spelling-to-sound pattern in English, with 's' at the start, 'pp' becoming a single /p/ release in the /pr/ cluster, and the ending 'ess' producing /əs/ or /əs/ depending on liaison. The crucial point is that the letter 'pp' does not yield a double consonant sound here; the /p/ is quickly released into /r/. This helps learners map letters to sounds accurately, reinforcing the /səˈprɛs/ pronunciation.
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US: Some speakers reduce the first syllable to a schwa /sə/ and deliver /ˈprɛs/ more briskly; UK: similar pattern, but with slightly crisper /ɪ/ vs /ɛ/ depending on region; AU: slight vowel quality shift, often more centralized /ə/ and less rhotic coloration in connected speech. Vowel quality: /ə/ in first syllable; /ɛ/ in the stressed vowel; final /s/ is sibilant. Consonants: ensure /p/ is released into a strong /r/ without a vowel before /r/; maintain a crisp /s/ at end. IPA references: US /səˈprɛs/, UK /səˈprɛs/, AU /səˈprɛs/.
Suppress comes from the Latin supers- meaning "over" or "above" combined with premere meaning "to press". The prefix sub- appears in some related forms, but suppression historically reflects an accent on pressing down or repressing from above. The Latin wordrumpere (to break) contributed to the idea of pressing down or repressing forcefully. In English, suppress first appeared in the late 15th to early 16th centuries, initially in medical or legal contexts, describing the act of pressing down or holding back. Over time, its usage broadened to describe silencing speech, emotions, or information, and it acquired its common modern sense of active restraint. The term evolved from physical connotations of pressing something down to more abstract acts of withholding or preventing disclosure. The pronunciation and spelling stabilized by the 17th century, with “suppress” maintaining a consistent form and the terminal -ess suffix aligning with related verbs like repress and suppressive elements in legal and medical language.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "suppress" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "suppress"
-ess sounds
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