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How to Say "to suppress" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to suppress” is “dominar” — use 'dominar' when you need to express controlling or overcoming something, like impulses, emotions, or physical reactions, often implying a struggle for self-control.

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dominar

doh-mee-NAHRdomiˈnar

verbB2general
Use 'dominar' when you need to express controlling or overcoming something, like impulses, emotions, or physical reactions, often implying a struggle for self-control.
A person sitting calmly in a meditative pose while stormy clouds gather in the distance.

Examples

Tienes que aprender a dominar tus nervios.

You have to learn to control your nerves.

El equipo local dominó el partido desde el principio.

The home team dominated the match from the beginning.

Reflexive use for self-control

When you want to say 'to control oneself,' you add 'se' to the end: 'dominarse'. For example, 'No pudo dominarse' (He couldn't control himself).

reprimir

reh-pree-MEERre.pɾiˈmiɾ

verbB2general
Choose 'reprimir' specifically for holding back or stifling emotions, desires, or impulses, often suggesting an internal effort to prevent them from being expressed.
A child covering their mouth with both hands to hold back a laugh.

Examples

Tuve que reprimir las ganas de llorar.

I had to hold back the urge to cry.

Ella siempre reprime sus sentimientos.

She always suppresses her feelings.

Reprimió un bostezo durante la aburrida presentación.

He stifled a yawn during the boring presentation.

A Regular -ir Verb

Reprimir follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ir, like 'vivir' or 'abrir.' No surprises in the spelling!

Using it with 'se'

When you want to say you are holding yourself back from doing something, use the reflexive form 'reprimirse': 'Me reprimí de decirle la verdad' (I stopped myself from telling him the truth).

Reprimir vs. Suprimir

Mistake: “Using 'reprimir' when you mean to delete or eliminate something entirely.”

Correction: Use 'reprimir' for holding back feelings/actions, but 'suprimir' for deleting a file, a paragraph, or a job position.

silenciar

see-len-syahrsilenˈsjaɾ

verbB2general
Use 'silenciar' when the intention is to stop someone from speaking, expressing an opinion, or making information public, essentially to make them quiet or unheard.
A colorful storybook illustration of a closed wooden chest with a heavy metal lock, representing hidden information.

Examples

El gobierno intentó silenciar las protestas.

The government tried to silence the protests.

No podrás silenciar la verdad por mucho tiempo.

You won't be able to suppress the truth for long.

La prensa fue silenciada durante el conflicto.

The press was silenced during the conflict.

The Passive Use

This meaning is often used with 'ser' (to be) to show something was suppressed, like 'fue silenciado' (it was silenced).

suprimir

soo-pree-MEERsupɾiˈmiɾ

verbB2general
Employ 'suprimir' when you mean to eliminate, remove, or delete something, such as a sentence, a physical reaction, or a feeling, often in a more formal or technical context.
An eraser removing a pencil drawing of a small circle from a piece of paper.

Examples

Puedes suprimir esta frase sin cambiar el significado.

You can delete this sentence without changing the meaning.

Le costó suprimir una sonrisa.

It was hard for him to suppress a smile.

Deleting Text

When editing a document, 'suprimir' is the formal way to say 'to cut' or 'to delete' a section of text.

Dominar vs. Reprimir

Learners often confuse 'dominar' and 'reprimir' when referring to emotions. Remember, 'dominar' implies gaining control over something, like nerves, while 'reprimir' means actively holding back or stifling an urge or feeling.

Related Translations

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