suffocate
verb
suf·fo·cate
ˈsə-fə-ˌkāt 
suffocated; suffocating
1
a(1)
: to stop the respiration of (as by strangling or asphyxiation)
(2)
: to deprive of oxygen
b
: to make uncomfortable by want of fresh air
2
: to impede or stop the development of
1
b
: to be uncomfortable through lack of fresh air
2
: to become checked in development
Examples of suffocate in a Sentence
The poor dog could suffocate in the car on a hot day like this.
Don't put your head in a plastic bag—you could suffocate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Little is understood about nitrogen hypoxia, where an inmate is made to suffocate on nitrogen gas delivered through a face mask, and Alabama was the only U.S. state prior to this week that had released a protocol for this type of execution.
—
Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025
At its heart are Rose (Kate Winslet), a fiercely independent woman suffocated by societal expectations, and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), a free-spirited artist who teaches her to chase freedom and joy.
—Janey Tracey, EW.com, 7 Feb. 2025
The authorities arrested Georgia for the murder of Cynthia’s dying husband Tom, leaving Paul, Georgia, Austin (who’d witnessed his mom suffocating Tom with a pillow) and the rest of the guests to look on in shock as she was taken away in handcuffs.
—Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 30 Jan. 2025
The untitled comedy, which landed at Fox for development in a competitive situation, centers on a determined 25-year-old vampire who struggles with running the family business for his murderous and suffocating vampire parents while trying to chase his dream to become an actor.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for suffocate 
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Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025
At its heart are Rose (Kate Winslet), a fiercely independent woman suffocated by societal expectations, and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), a free-spirited artist who teaches her to chase freedom and joy.
—Janey Tracey, EW.com, 7 Feb. 2025
The authorities arrested Georgia for the murder of Cynthia’s dying husband Tom, leaving Paul, Georgia, Austin (who’d witnessed his mom suffocating Tom with a pillow) and the rest of the guests to look on in shock as she was taken away in handcuffs.
—Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 30 Jan. 2025
The untitled comedy, which landed at Fox for development in a competitive situation, centers on a determined 25-year-old vampire who struggles with running the family business for his murderous and suffocating vampire parents while trying to chase his dream to become an actor.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for suffocate
Dictionary Entries Near suffocate
Cite this Entry
“Suffocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffocate. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
suffocate
verb
suf·fo·cate
ˈsəf-ə-ˌkāt
suffocated; suffocating
1
a
: to stop the breathing of (as by strangling)
b
: to deprive of oxygen
c
: to make uncomfortable by want of fresh air
2
: to become suffocated
especially
: to die or suffer from being unable to breathe or from lack of oxygen
Medical Definition
suffocate
verb
suf·fo·cate
ˈsəf-ə-ˌkāt
suffocated; suffocating
1
: to stop the respiration of (as by strangling or asphyxiation)
2
: to deprive of oxygen
: to die from being unable to breathe
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