1
as in to strangle
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stifle
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 to bury
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
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Recent Examples of smother
Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
The poulet en croûte—a French riff on a classic chicken pot pie, filled with roasted chicken, leeks, morels, and truffles, layered over creamy mashed potatoes, and smothered in rich gravy—was another standout.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
An active suspension with hydraulic roll stabilization smothers any rough spots with the nerve to intrude on the SL 680’s progress.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smother
Verb
Its trading floor — the setting for most of the hostile financial bedlam — was last seen smothered in tarpaulin while awaiting closure after the bank was acquired by an Egyptian sovereign wealth fund.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
The poulet en croûte—a French riff on a classic chicken pot pie, filled with roasted chicken, leeks, morels, and truffles, layered over creamy mashed potatoes, and smothered in rich gravy—was another standout.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Wildlife exposed to oil and grease can suffer fatal effects — the substance can coat feathers and fur, impairing mobility and body temperature regulation, or smother aquatic plants that other species depend on for food and oxygen.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
An active suspension with hydraulic roll stabilization smothers any rough spots with the nerve to intrude on the SL 680’s progress.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smother
Verb
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Fujita was 20 in 2013 when he was found guilty of strangling and stabbing his former high school girlfriend to death in Wayland.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Mostly, though, Boland strangles batters with his suffocating and deadly-accurate line and length.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And Rudy Gobert remains one of the league's most stifling rim protectors.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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In New York, a broader proposal to ban masks on the subway drew criticism about stifling protests.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Given one final chance to tie, Mazzulla sent Gonzalez back in as a late sub, and the 19-year-old buried one from the left corner to force a second OT.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
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Tourists are urged to lock up their food and trash, and anglers instructed to bury any bait that may attract scavengers.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The primary king suite features a spa-level bathroom with a soaking tub, sauna, steam shower, and automated fixtures, while the additional guest suite with two queen beds offers its own ensuite bathroom and generous separation.—
Jill Schildhouse,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Jimenez expressed confidence the ballot measure would continue to gain steam as SEIU-UHW’s campaign progresses.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The petition, which was granted by a federal judge, cites reports alleging that guards at the facility choked and asphyxiated Campos.—
Laura Romero,
ABC News,
23 Jan. 2026
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In a brain stroke, human tissues die quickly when deprived of oxygen and choked by waste.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This led organically to feelings of love for one’s Black nannies and friendship with the children of your Black live-in maids, but this warmth had to be suppressed.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
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Is grief, guilt, or shame suppressing your willpower?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Global Compassion Coalition says that the first step to overcoming helplessness is to practice acceptance instead of resistance, which is a hard pill to take at the moment.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
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One night after the Warriors snapped Minnesota's 103-game streak of scoring at least 100 points — the third-longest in NBA history — the Timberwolves overcame a cold start from the floor and 23 turnovers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The image appears to show Ketter moving through a cloud of tear gas during a demonstration following the killing of Alex Pretti, which happened just minutes away from his store.—
Nick Lunemann,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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That leaves them out of pocket, at risk of reputational damage and in danger of losing customers who blame them, rather than the cloud services provider, for the problem.—
David Prosser,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smother. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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