stifled; stifling
ˈstī-f(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to withhold from circulation or expression
stifled our anger
b
: to cut off (the voice, the breath, etc.)
c
: deter, discourage
: to be or become unable to breathe easily
stifling in the heat
: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (such as a horse or dog) corresponding to the human knee see horse illustration
Examples of stifle in a Sentence
Verb
trying to stifle a cry
I had to stifle the desire to yell “Stop!”.
Students at the school are stifled by the pressure to score high on tests.
Too many regulations stifle innovation.
something that stifles the growth of the plant
I wish we could go outside instead of stifling in this tiny room.
He was almost stifled by the smoke.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nizan Geslevich Packin, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Article 34 of the Turkish Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly without prior permission, now holds little weight in an environment in which political repression stifles dissent by the public and obstructs any meaningful resistance movement.
—Bilal Bilici, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Experts say the verdict could stifle public protests, as Niina H. Farah and Robin Bravender report for E&E News.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2025
The Istanbul mayor and 106 other municipal officials and politicians were detained on March 19 for what Human Rights Watch called a politically motivated move to stifle lawful political activities.
—Chris Massaro, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
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Verb
Scholars have been discussing for years this tension, exploring if and to what extent regulation stifles innovation.
—Nizan Geslevich Packin, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Article 34 of the Turkish Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly without prior permission, now holds little weight in an environment in which political repression stifles dissent by the public and obstructs any meaningful resistance movement.
—Bilal Bilici, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Experts say the verdict could stifle public protests, as Niina H. Farah and Robin Bravender report for E&E News.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2025
The Istanbul mayor and 106 other municipal officials and politicians were detained on March 19 for what Human Rights Watch called a politically motivated move to stifle lawful political activities.
—Chris Massaro, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stifle. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
stifle
noun
sti·fle
ˈstī-fəl
: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (as a horse) corresponding to the knee in humans
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