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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suffocate
Played by Kingston Rumi Southwick, Evan spends much of the season pushing against the suffocating boundaries set by his father Tom Loftis, portrayed by Matthew Rhys, only for a shocking revelation to fundamentally reshape their relationship by the finale.
—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
17 June 2026
Both girls had been suffocated to death.
—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Nevertheless—as Rooney often captures well in her novels—the reason that sharing life with men can feel like slow violence is ultimately not the men themselves (not in many cases, at least) but, rather, the hierarchies that, flowing through us all, elevate them and suffocate us.
—
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
But against a suffocating new-look defense spearheaded by Williams, the Valkyries stifled Plum to the tune of a season-low nine points on 3-of-10 shooting and just 2 of 3 from the free throw line.
—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
17 June 2026
Both girls had been suffocated to death.
—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Nevertheless—as Rooney often captures well in her novels—the reason that sharing life with men can feel like slow violence is ultimately not the men themselves (not in many cases, at least) but, rather, the hierarchies that, flowing through us all, elevate them and suffocate us.
—
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
But against a suffocating new-look defense spearheaded by Williams, the Valkyries stifled Plum to the tune of a season-low nine points on 3-of-10 shooting and just 2 of 3 from the free throw line.
—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocate
Verb
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Instead of having a thousand flowers bloom, a thousand weeds end up strangling them.
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She was likely strangled, the pathologist concluded.
Verb
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The campaign has choked Russian fuel supplies and military deliveries, stalling Russia's efforts on the battlefield, Western officials and analysts say, and heaped pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Remove chokes from artichokes and steam in small amount of water for 15 minutes, adding water to pan as needed.
Verb
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And Sydney vomiting out the news of Carmy’s departure is definitely something.
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Mayes got Onaje out of bed and into the bathroom, where Onaje vomited and went limp.
Verb
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In May, even before summer arrived, the UK sweltered under a record-breaking heat wave, during which at least 19 people drowned in open water, 13 of them children, according to the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS).
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These opportunists drown out the core mission, creating a cacophony of competing voices that confuses donors, crowd the inboxes of CEOs and members of Congress with colliding petitions, and paralyzes meaningful action by draining critical funding and attention away from the truly effective groups.
Verb
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Whether they’re smothered in pepper jelly, doused in barbecue sauce, or wrapped in bacon, appetizers are your chance to set the tone and impress your guests (because, let’s face it, nothing beats the satisfaction of compliments on your spread).
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Like English ivy, kudzu spreads very aggressively, smothering out native species and potentially becoming a real problem for your garden.
Cite this Entry
“Suffocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocate. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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