suppress emotions

Meaning

To consciously or unconsciously prevent oneself from expressing or feeling emotions, especially difficult ones like anger, sadness, or grief. In relationships, this often leads to unresolved tension or sudden emotional outbursts later on.

Examples

• Instead of addressing the conflict directly, he chose to suppress his emotions, which only worsened the strain on their marriage.

  Instead of addressing the conflict directly, he chose to suppress his emotions, which only worsened the strain on their marriage.

• Psychologists suggest that suppressing emotions can have detrimental effects on one's physical health.

  Psychologists suggest that suppressing emotions can have detrimental effects on one's physical health.

• She found it incredibly difficult to suppress her emotions during the eulogy for her late grandfather.

  She found it incredibly difficult to suppress her emotions during the eulogy for her late grandfather.

• In professional settings, individuals are often expected to suppress their personal emotions to maintain decorum.

  In professional settings, individuals are often expected to suppress their personal emotions to maintain decorum.

• Rather than suppressing your emotions, it is healthier to acknowledge them and discuss them with a trusted partner.

  Rather than suppressing your emotions, it is healthier to acknowledge them and discuss them with a trusted partner.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He depressed his emotions to avoid a fight.

  ✓ He suppressed his emotions to avoid a fight.

  'Depress' means to lower or make sad, whereas 'suppress' is the correct verb for holding back or crushing feelings.

• ✗ She is suppressing about her emotions.

  ✓ She is suppressing her emotions.

  'Suppress' is a transitive verb and directly takes an object without the preposition 'about'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• In many cultures, men are socialized to ___ rather than seek help.

  💡 hold back their feelings

  Show answer

  suppress emotions

• It is unhealthy to ___ for too long, as they will eventually surface.

  💡 consciously prevent yourself from feeling or showing feelings

  Show answer

  suppress emotions