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
So Help Me God’s songs unfurl across five, seven, and even eight minutes, speaking on the perils of not knowing oneself, feeling suffocated by a dead-end relationship, and coaxing out the will to do better.
—
Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026
The Hurricanes held Vegas to five total goals in Games 4 and 5 and used a suffocating defense in a 3-0 shutout Sunday night in Game 6 to win their first championship in 20 years.
—ABC News, 14 June 2026
Let food breathe in the fridge instead of suffocating it in cling wrap.
—Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
There is an intensity to his teams that serves to suffocate opponents.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026
The Hurricanes held Vegas to five total goals in Games 4 and 5 and used a suffocating defense in a 3-0 shutout Sunday night in Game 6 to win their first championship in 20 years.
—ABC News, 14 June 2026
Let food breathe in the fridge instead of suffocating it in cling wrap.
—Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
There is an intensity to his teams that serves to suffocate opponents.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocate
Verb
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He had been arrested for allegedly strangling his then-girlfriend, Johnny Faye Cartwright, in 2020.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 June 2026
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Jurors deliberated for a week before voting to convict 48-year-old Francesca Lopez in the death of Felipe Lopez-Custodio, who was clubbed to death with a piece of scrap wood and strangled with a cord inside his apartment on Jacqueline Way in Concord.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Pets, especially young ones, enjoy exploring new objects by tasting them, which can pose choking and electrocution hazards.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Dec. 2025
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Earlier in the night, the pair had gotten into a fight, with Sally saying in the docuseries that Ray hit her and then choked her.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In a case the company resolved for $500,000, a Genesis nursing home was accused of delaying the hospitalization of a resident who had vomited brown mucus.—
Jordan Rau,
CBS News,
9 Dec. 2025
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The episode ends with Roger vomiting up his lunch in front of a group of prospective clients.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Also keep in mind that blasting noise through your AirPods or speakers may drown out some very important other sounds — like approaching wildlife or mad rattlesnakes.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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Skokie police said first responders began lifesaving measures at the scene, and the person who nearly drowned was stabilized at a local hospital.—
Dylan Olsen,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The creamy, rich, and cheesy potato dish is perfect alongside a short stack of pancakes smothered in their addictive butter syrup.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
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One night in 1983, the two smothered Smith’s kitchen in corn kernels.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Suffocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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