What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
suppressing
Example
The government is suppressing the freedom of speech. [suppressing: present participle]
Example
She was suppressing her anger during the meeting. [suppressing: gerund]
restrain
Example
The police had to restrain the suspect from running away. [restrain: verb]
Example
He had to restrain himself from eating the whole cake. [restrain: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Restrain is more commonly used than suppressing in everyday language. Restrain is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while suppressing is less common and often used in more specific or formal contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between suppressing and restrain?
Both suppressing and restrain can be used in formal contexts, but suppressing may be perceived as more formal due to its less frequent usage in everyday language.