amordazar

To gag someone literally (amordazar a un rehén), or, very commonly in journalism and politics, figuratively to silence or suppress free speech and the press (amordazar a la prensa). The figurative political sense is extremely frequent in news headlines.

• Los secuestradores amordazaron a la víctima. — The kidnappers gagged the victim.
• La organización denunció un intento de amordazar a la prensa. — The organization denounced an attempt to gag the press.
• Ninguna ley debería amordazar la libertad de expresión. — No law should gag freedom of expression.

Assuming amordazar is always literal — in political and media contexts it's overwhelmingly figurative, describing laws or actions meant to suppress speech, not physically silencing someone.

Often confused with silenciar.

• politics "Amordazar a la prensa" — A recurring phrase in Spanish-language political journalism describing government attempts to restrict press freedom — used in headlines across Spain and Latin America, including coverage of Spain's controversial 'Ley Mordaza' (gag law) and similar press-restriction proposals in Peru.