as in to strangle
to cause (someone) to stop breathing and often to become unconscious and die
The murder victim was asphyxiated.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of asphyxiate
The burns cause swelling, the airways close, and the victim can asphyxiate.
—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
22 May 2026
Tarrant County prosecutors said Busby and an accomplice abducted Crane, 77, from a grocery store parking lot, robbed her and then asphyxiated her with duct tape, wrapping 14 layers around her face.
—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
The indictment charges Horner with strangling, smothering or asphyxiating Athena while in the course of kidnapping her.
—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
Like being asphyxiated in a ball pit filled with candy, the experience of watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is at once kaleidoscopic and nerve-wracking.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
22 May 2026
Tarrant County prosecutors said Busby and an accomplice abducted Crane, 77, from a grocery store parking lot, robbed her and then asphyxiated her with duct tape, wrapping 14 layers around her face.
—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
The indictment charges Horner with strangling, smothering or asphyxiating Athena while in the course of kidnapping her.
—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
Like being asphyxiated in a ball pit filled with candy, the experience of watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is at once kaleidoscopic and nerve-wracking.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asphyxiate
Verb
-
Instead of having a thousand flowers bloom, a thousand weeds end up strangling them.
-
She was likely strangled, the pathologist concluded.
Verb
-
The wave of progressive candidates challenging mainstream Democrats may drown Sens.
-
Kamal, a 60-year-old Palestinian man, is ordered by an Israeli court in Jerusalem to pay a large social security debt on behalf of his son Wael, who drowned in the Red Sea over 20 years ago, or so Kamal was told.
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiate. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
