1
as in to strangle
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
the law requires the owner of a discarded refrigerator to remove its door so that a child won't get trapped inside and suffocate
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suffocate
Rather than conjuring a mood of bracing inexorability, this linear focus only suffocates what might be an interesting debate, as a man of the modern world weighs his values against those of a woman raised in atavistic isolation.
—
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Thank goodness Vance Joseph’s defense is suffocating, spearheaded by Bonitto and Hufanga.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
People crushed or suffocated in stampedes.
—Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
The Utes executed with precision, scoring on six of seven red zone trips and converting 14 of 16 third-down attempts while their defense suffocated the Bruins.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Thank goodness Vance Joseph’s defense is suffocating, spearheaded by Bonitto and Hufanga.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
People crushed or suffocated in stampedes.
—Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
The Utes executed with precision, scoring on six of seven red zone trips and converting 14 of 16 third-down attempts while their defense suffocated the Bruins.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocate
Verb
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This preserves development velocity while preventing the entropy that eventually strangles the innovation vibe coding enables.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Clark helped the Cowboys slow down last year’s rushing champion, Saquon Barkley, in a 24-20 loss at Philadelphia, while Parsons helped the Packers strangle a Detroit Lions offense that was among the NFL’s best last season in a 27-13 victory.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the clip, the pair execute the moves to the song’s post-chorus, before a bonnet-wearing Colbert pretends to choke on something, causing Gaga to erupt in laughter.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
10 Sep. 2025
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Luckily, the police department had recently brought in a CPR specialist who taught officers how to save choking children.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then, early in the morning of February 18, Chernyak began having seizures and vomiting in his bunk bed.—
Isabelle Chapman,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
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The first crazy thing that happens to the movie Smurls is when a kitchen chandelier almost falls on them, though the most visceral is when oldest sister Dawn Smurl (Beau Gadsdon) suddenly vomits up pieces of glass, leaving the sink and her face a bloody mess.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After a man drowned off a popular Anna Maria Island beach over the Labor Day weekend, city officials are speeding up plans to ban swimming in the area.—
Ryan Ballogg,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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On Wednesday, as one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims spoke outside the Capitol, pleading for government candor, fighter jets roared overhead, briefly drowning her out.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The smotherer has been smothered.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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Moody’s second field goal attempt, from 36 yards, got blocked when Julian Love quickly jumped past Matt Hennessy and smothered Moody’s attempt on its ascent.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suffocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocate. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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