suppressive
suppressive Lexical Profile
suppressive Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Tending or serving to inhibit, restrain, or keep something from being expressed, developed, or active.
"The authoritarian regime enacted suppressive laws designed to silence independent journalists and political dissidents."
Acting to reduce the severity of symptoms or halt the replication and spread of a pathogen or physiological response without necessarily curing the underlying condition.
"The physician prescribed daily suppressive therapy to prevent recurrent outbreaks of the viral infection."
• noun
A medication, substance, or agent that inhibits or suppresses a physiological process, immune response, or symptom.
"The patient was given a mild cough suppressive to help her sleep comfortably through the night."
• Rhymes for suppressive
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 16th century from the Latin past participle stem 'suppress-' (from 'supprimere', meaning 'to press down or check') combined with the adjective-forming suffix '-ive'.