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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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 suffocate
This is the epitome of the Thunder defense, one of the best in recent history at suffocating ballhandlers and commandeering passing lanes.
—
Joe Vardon, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Too many can clog the filter and even suffocate fish.
Skim or net falling leaves.
—Kelly Roberson, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025
The girls were found near Travis Decker's white truck having been suffocated, with Decker nowhere in sight, court records say.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 June 2025
While that may not be possible in the NBA, where the new collective bargaining agreement is meant to suffocate its biggest spenders with punitive tax payments and roster-building restrictions, the Dodgers have not been cowed by the limits MLB has tried to set on them.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Joe Vardon, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Too many can clog the filter and even suffocate fish.
Skim or net falling leaves.
—Kelly Roberson, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025
The girls were found near Travis Decker's white truck having been suffocated, with Decker nowhere in sight, court records say.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 June 2025
While that may not be possible in the NBA, where the new collective bargaining agreement is meant to suffocate its biggest spenders with punitive tax payments and roster-building restrictions, the Dodgers have not been cowed by the limits MLB has tried to set on them.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocate
Verb
-
At one point, her former sweetheart tried to leap from his chair to strangle her.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2025
-
Tania Thomas, 47, was strangled to death in July 2024 during a multi-day conjugal visit with husband Anthony Desean Curry.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2025
Verb
-
For more than a minute, audio captures the sounds of a struggle: grunting, choking.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
-
As a result, millions more children and vulnerable people will be forced to choke on toxic fumes while manufacturing executives pour more money into dying steel plants.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
On a transplant list, Kim Betts started vomiting and getting weaker.—
Brad Schmitt,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
-
After eating a stew made from acacia nuts and prickly pear cactus, Will suffered terrible gastrointestinal stress, eventually vomiting blood.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside Online,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
In 2024, 34 kids with autism drowned in Florida — half of the national total.—
Karen Cohn,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 July 2025
-
Flash floods drowned portions of the state's Hill Country on the Fourth of July, spurred by nearly unprecedented rainfall that swelled the Guadalupe River.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
The Bulls have already tried to deal Vučević to the Warriors once in a trade deadline deal that was smothered, in part, by the Jimmy Butler move with the Miami Heat.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
-
Temperatures have skyrocketed over recent days as a dangerous heat dome has smothered the northeast.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suffocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocate. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share