smother

verb smoth·er \ ˈsmə-t͟hər \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Examples: smother in a Sentence

Definition of smother

smothered; smothering play \ˈsmə-t͟hə-riŋ, ˈsmət͟h-riŋ\

transitive verb

1 a : to kill by depriving of air

b : to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen

c : to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of air

2 a : to suppress expression or knowledge of

smothered his rage

b : to stop or prevent the growth or activity of

smother a child with too much care

; also : overwhelm

c : to cover thickly : blanket

snow smothered the trails

d : to overcome or vanquish quickly or decisively

e : to cause to smolder

3 : to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes

4 : to cook in a covered pan or pot with little liquid over low heat

intransitive verb

: to be overcome or killed through or as if through lack of air

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Examples of smother in a Sentence

He tried to smother her with a pillow.
She smothered the fire with a blanket.

Recent Examples of smother from the Web

Hayden, who was 79 at the time of her killing, was found in her Normal Heights, Calif. home smothered and possibly raped on May 20, 1987.

— ryan gaydos, Fox News, "Man charged in cold-case murder of elderly California woman," 13 July 2018
The race started with temperatures rising into the low 90s, with higher temps and smothering humidity ahead for later in the afternoon.

— mike hembree, USA TODAY, "Kyle Busch outduels Kyle Larson at Chicagoland Speedway, earns fifth win of 2018," 1 July 2018
So was the Big Fontana burger, its patty smothered in bacon, American cheese, onion, pickle, lettuce and sweet, tangy sauce.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "The 'new' Old Point Tavern opens on Mass Ave.," 21 May 2018
Accuse her simultaneously of career failure and of being too ambitious—her ambition a symbol of her voracious, smothering sexuality.

— eve fairbanks, The New Republic, "The Hollow Rage of Tom Brokaw," 3 May 2018
At the Jordanian border on Friday, some refugees had brought tents but thousands were sleeping in the smothering heat in open fields.

— New York Times, "Syrian Assault Flouts U.S.-Backed Cease-Fire and Sets Off New Exodus," 29 June 2018
And while there is some silt on the reef — which can be a smothering hazard for oysters — the bivalves are in some places growing vertically, above the silt.

— scott dance, baltimoresun.com, "Man-made oyster reef near Key Bridge 'flourishing,' Chesapeake Bay Foundation says," 28 June 2018
Durant scored 25 points, Green led a smothering Golden State defense, and the Warriors held off the late-charging San Antonio Spurs 99-91 on Tuesday night to win Game 5 and advance to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.

— Washington Post, "Durant, Green lead Warriors past Spurs into second round," 25 Apr. 2018
In an ugly grinder, points occasionally squeezed past smothering defenses, Houston had been slightly better.

— george schroeder, USA TODAY, "2018 NCAA tournament: Michigan's buzzer-beater 'is what March is made of'," 18 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of smother

circa 1520

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

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smother Synonyms

smother

noun

Definition of smother

1 a : thick stifling smoke or smudge

b : a state of being stifled or suppressed

2 : a dense cloud (as of fog or dust)

3 : a confused multitude of things : welter

—

smothery

play \ˈsmə-t͟hə-rē, ˈsmət͟h-rē\ adjective

Recent Examples of smother from the Web

The 40-minute mindset, the smother-ous defense, the varied scoring options.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc: Georgia State game was the best and worst of UC basketball," 16 Mar. 2018
Excessive moisture smothers and kills roots, leading to discolored and dying foliage.

— debbie arrington, sacbee, "Spray or drip irrigation: Which way is best for your garden?," 20 Oct. 2017
Smothers, who lived in the unit block of Osborne Road, was pronounced dead at the scene.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Charges dropped in 2016 Aberdeen double homicide," 25 Aug. 2017
Smothers remains in critical condition at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

— peter hermann, Washington Post, "Firefighters describe critically injured colleague as humble future leader," 10 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of smother

Middle English, alteration of smorther, from smoren to smother, from Old English smorian to suffocate; akin to Middle Dutch smoren to suffocate

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First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year