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
Sophia Panych, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025
From a violent separatist insurgency in the English-speaking west to entrenched corruption, the country has seen growth stifled despite abundant oil and mineral wealth.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Even if doing this against low blocks in stifling North American heat next summer will be another thing entirely.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Merokeety 2-piece Fleece Loungewear Set Soft and cozy without being stifling, this fuzzy matching set is made for lounging, running errands, or even boarding a red-eye.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Young people felt stifled and disenfranchised, setting the stage for subcultures to flourish.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025
From a violent separatist insurgency in the English-speaking west to entrenched corruption, the country has seen growth stifled despite abundant oil and mineral wealth.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Even if doing this against low blocks in stifling North American heat next summer will be another thing entirely.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Merokeety 2-piece Fleece Loungewear Set Soft and cozy without being stifling, this fuzzy matching set is made for lounging, running errands, or even boarding a red-eye.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share