asphyxiation

noun

as·phyx·i·ation | \ as-ˌfik-sē-ˈā-shən

, əs-\

Definition of asphyxiation

: deprivation of oxygen that can result in unconsciousness and often death : an act of asphyxiating a person or animal or a state of asphyxia : suffocation The autopsy showed that the cause of death was asphyxiation. Pliny the Elder did not die of falling pumice, but of asphyxiation, as he breathed noxious fumes from the eruption.— Sidney Perkowitz Asphyxiation at birth caused permanent impairment of his nerve-signaling system …— Ann Geracimos In rats, mice, and rabbits ciguatera poison causes death by asphyxiation.— Kwang-ming Li

Examples of asphyxiation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Police later confirmed that Eaton’s cause of death was asphyxiation, and that her body was discovered wrapped in burlap. — Gina Martinez, Time, "Greek Police Question 'Main Suspect' in Death of American Biologist Killed in Crete," 15 July 2019 The medical examiner determined that Samira's cause of death was asphyxiation. — Asena Basak, CBS News, "Convicted killer of pregnant Florida mother: "I did not kill Samira Watkins"," 3 July 2019 Most victims died from asphyxiation as smoke filled the wards, and some died when life support equipment stopped working in the fire, said Gabriela Graça, director of the state Institute of Forensic Medicine. — BostonGlobe.com, "Carlos Outerelo, 60, was visiting his sick mother when the fire started Thursday night. Berta Gonçalves Berreiros Sousa, 93, was among the dead.," 14 Sep. 2019 Previous SlideNext Slide The vast majority of people in Pompeii and Herculaneum—the cities hardest hit—perished from asphyxiation, choking on the thick clouds of noxious gas and ash. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Archaeologists discovered an invaluable cache of ritual artifacts at Pompeii," 14 Aug. 2019 Christopher’s disappearance comes only a month after 57-year-old American molecular biologist Suzanne Eaton was discovered on July 9, having died from asphyxiation in a case. — Madeleine Carlisle, Time, "Body Believed to Be British Astrophysicist Found in Greece Weeks After Murder of American Biologist," 7 Aug. 2019 The baby did die of natural causes, of course, but natural causes that were inflicted by the brain injury caused from the asphyxiation of his mother. — Steve Helling, PEOPLE.com, "Chicago Mom and Daughter Charged with Murder After Baby Boy Ripped From Slain Woman's Womb Dies," 19 July 2019 For tens of thousands of years, animals would become mired in the tar, gradually getting sucked down into the pit before dying of asphyxiation. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Fossilized teeth of Ice Age predators yield clues to why certain species survived," 6 Aug. 2019 According to the report, Munson died of asphyxiation. — Steve Borelli, USA TODAY, "Forty years later, Thurman Munson's legacy remains story," 1 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'asphyxiation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.