suppurate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suppurate" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a medical context to describe the process of producing or discharging pus, often in relation to an infection. Example: "The wound began to suppurate, indicating that an infection had developed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Where else can crime be guaranteed to break out and suppurate?

The New Yorker

The sweepers trade mordant one-liners, and the skels shuffle and suppurate and tear the living to pieces whenever they can get their teeth into them.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Here were suppurating sticks of greasepaint in shades nine and five (when applied together in a thick orange paste they were supposed to give a "fleshy" tone to skin but in fact made everyone on stage look as if they were on the verge of a thrombosis); dried-up tubs of cold cream; rotting sponges with thriving colonies of bacteria.

The Guardian

I guess artists at some point must treat nightmares like these, because the intention is to lance a boil that is suppurating in the national psyche.

The Guardian

All of them have ignored – or blissfully forgotten – that privatization, not government overreach, lies at the heart of America's suppurating arrest and deportation policy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Save a sausage, rub your corners off, and never mind that thrombosis, dear, it's only suppurating a bit.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When I consider my suppurating private life: my greying hair, my body's abandonment of anything resembling skin tone, I'd have thought I was wracked with, say, inoperable despair, but it isn't so.

The Guardian

The dank squalor of the turf-built hovels in which most Icelanders lived is described with disconcerting relish, along with the suppurating sores, stoically borne, that resulted.

The Economist

From 2016 packs will only carry the make of cigarette and the brand name, along with the usual health warnings and ghastly photos of suppurating tumours and grangrenous toes.Britain is the third country in the world to pass such legislation: Ireland did so earlier this month and Australia did so in 2012.

The Economist

Unless nipped in the bud by a dose of this exception vancomycin it can cause purulent boils on the skin, suppurating wounds and, in extreme cases, fatal toxic shock in those unfortunate enough to suffer its attentions.Until now, vigilance and vancomycin have kept MRSA under control.

The Economist

Nature lumbered him with a withered arm, a suppurating ear and possibly slight cerebral palsy.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suppurate" in medical or descriptive contexts where the formation or discharge of pus is a key detail. It adds a specific and somewhat clinical tone to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "suppurate" metaphorically or in non-medical contexts where simpler words like "fester" or "worsen" would be more appropriate. The term has a strong association with physical infection.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "suppurate" is as an intransitive verb, describing the process of forming or discharging pus. It is often used in medical or descriptive contexts, as Ludwig shows.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "suppurate" is a grammatically sound verb that describes the formation or discharge of pus, often associated with infections. While its usage is correct, Ludwig highlights that it is relatively rare. When writing, remember that it has a clinical tone and avoid its metaphorical use. Considering synonyms like "fester" or "discharge pus" can provide alternatives in different contexts. The word primarily appears in News & Media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fester

Implies a worsening condition with internal corruption and often involves pus formation.

discharge pus

Directly describes the action of pus being released from a wound or infection.

generate pus

Focuses on the production of pus as a result of infection or inflammation.

become purulent

Describes the condition of something becoming filled with or discharging pus.

form pus

Highlights the creation of pus within a wound or infected area.

become infected

Indicates the onset of an infection, which can lead to suppuration.

ooze pus

Suggests a slow and often unpleasant discharge of pus.

exude pus

Similar to ooze, but may imply a more significant quantity of discharge.

secrete pus

Describes a biological process where pus is produced and released.

develop an abscess

Indicates the formation of a localized collection of pus in the body.

FAQs

What does "suppurate" mean?

"Suppurate" means to form or discharge pus, usually associated with a wound or infection.

How do you use "suppurate" in a sentence?

You might say, "The wound began to "fester" and "discharge pus", indicating it was starting to "suppurate".

What are some synonyms for "suppurate"?

Synonyms for "suppurate" include "fester", "discharge pus", or "generate pus".

Is it appropriate to use "suppurate" in non-medical contexts?

While technically correct, using "suppurate" outside of medical or descriptive contexts can sound overly formal or even strange. Simpler terms like "worsen" or "deteriorate" may be better choices.