as in suffocating
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in strangling
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
children should never play inside discarded appliances because they could become trapped and smother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifling
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
he quickly smothered his inappropriate laughter at the funeral ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in burying
to defeat by a large margin
the soccer team smothered their first few opponents in the championships, but lost narrowly in the final round
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothering
Adjective
-
And their suffocating defensive pressure will overwhelm the Boilermakers.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025 -
Quarterback Kirk Cousins was having trouble against a suffocating pass rush.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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He had been arrested for allegedly strangling his then-girlfriend, Johnny Faye Cartwright, in 2020.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
4 Jan. 2025
-
His trouble with the law began in 2020, when he was arrested for allegedly strangling his girlfriend at an Oregon home.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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However, a lack of autonomy growing up can strongly trigger the need for independence and reinforce negative attitudes about how future relationships may continue to be stifling.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
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For a player who has always shown so much energy and joy on the court, searching for offense with this new roster has proven to be stifling.—
Jon Krawczynski,
The Athletic,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Cryptocurrency mixers can be essential tools for individuals who value privacy, including those living under oppressive regimes, journalists, whistleblowers, and businesses that require confidentiality in their transactions.—
Becca Bratcher,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Coventry became the minister of sports a year after the coup that removed Mugabe in the new administration of current President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s vice president who rights groups say has continued many of Mugabe’s oppressive policies.—
Gerald Imray,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Cut smaller kids' meals into little bites to prevent choking.—
Ryan Murphy,
The Indianapolis Star,
24 Dec. 2024
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The maneuver has a success rate of more than 86% in choking cases, research has shown.—
Melissa Rudy,
Fox News,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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His approach promises a more collaborative regulatory framework, fostering innovation rather than suppressing it.—
Leeor Shimron,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Ice protects fish eggs by suppressing winds and waves that can stir up the sediment, reducing the number of fish that hatch in the spring.—
Caitlin Looby,
Journal Sentinel,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Police say a 3-month-old baby has died after drowning in a motel bathtub on New Year’s Day.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
3 Jan. 2025
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Her cause of death was drowning, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner ruled.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Kids older than one year can be given honey to help neutralize the damage, but swallowing a button battery is a life-threatening emergency for which parents should immediately seek medical care.—
Ryan Murphy,
The Indianapolis Star,
24 Dec. 2024
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Symptoms include general weakness, muscle weakness, dizziness, double-vision, abdominal tension, constipation, trouble with speaking or swallowing and difficulty in breathing.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Smothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothering. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
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