stifle

verb

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sti·fle | \ ˈstī-fəl

stifled; stifling\ ˈstī-f(ə-)liŋ

Definition of stifle

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to withhold from circulation or expression stifled our anger

b : to cut off (the voice, the breath, etc.)

c : deter, discourage

2a(1) : muffle

(2) : smother

b : to kill by depriving of oxygen : suffocate

intransitive verb

: to be or become unable to breathe easily stifling in the heat

stifle

noun

Definition of stifle (Entry 2 of 2)

: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (such as a horse or dog) corresponding to the human knee — see horse illustration

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Other Words from stifle

Verb

stifler \ ˈstī-f(ə-)lər

\ noun

stiflingly \ ˈstī-f(ə-)liŋ-lē

\ adverb

Examples of stifle in a Sentence

Verb trying to stifle a cry I had to stifle the desire to yell “Stop!”. Students at the school are stifled by the pressure to score high on tests. Too many regulations stifle innovation. something that stifles the growth of the plant I wish we could go outside instead of stifling in this tiny room. He was almost stifled by the smoke. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Holloway wrote that tobacco companies handed out free cigarettes in Black housing projects and even donated to civil rights organizations in order to stifle criticism from within the Black community. — Grayson Quay, The Week, 2 May 2022 The combination of the law’s intentional vagueness and severity is meant to stifle criticism of the Russian invasion. — Stanislav Budnitsky, The Conversation, 19 Apr. 2022 Human rights groups and some governments have cited concern over China’s mass detention of ethnic Uyghurs in the northwestern region of Xinjiang and its efforts to stifle criticism in Hong Kong. — Kim Mackrael, WSJ, 9 Dec. 2021 Anger and anxiety over the Shanghai lockdown, now in its fourth week, has posed a rare challenge for China’s powerful propaganda apparatus, which is central to the Communist Party’s ability to stifle dissent. — New York Times, 27 Apr. 2022 The move to outlaw Navalny's movement is part of a sweeping and unprecedented crackdown under Putin to stifle dissent that has intensified in recent months. — Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 9 June 2021 Those big mounds of mulch, all over the yard, will stifle the roots and make life oh so hard. — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 15 Apr. 2022 That's because everything Xi has implemented at home has been to stifle free thought, not unleash it. — Ian Johnson, CNN, 9 Mar. 2022 In recent years, governments in India, Myanmar, Ethiopia and elsewhere have used internet blackouts to stifle pockets of dissent. — New York Times, 23 Oct. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Even in a country that is known to stifle dissent, hundreds of demonstrators came out in St. Petersburg on Thursday, at great personal risk, to protest Putin’s invasion. — Philip Klein, National Review, 25 Feb. 2022 And the pressure to stifle outbreaks can make officials overzealous, prioritizing adherence to the rules no matter the cost. — Chris Buckley, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Jan. 2022 And the pressure to stifle outbreaks can make officials overzealous, prioritizing adherence to the rules no matter the cost. — New York Times, 30 Jan. 2022 But Commissioner Kelly Moden said granny flats have too much potential to help solve the local housing shortage for the city to potentially stifle construction. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2021 The principles are a response to concerns raised by app developers and lawmakers, who say app stores run by Apple Inc. and others take an unfairly large cut of digital revenues and stifle competition. — Ryan Tracy, WSJ, 9 Feb. 2022 His dramatic 11-yard sack earlier in the fourth quarter helped stifle a drive by Batavia (10-1). — Jeff Vorva, chicagotribune.com, 6 Nov. 2021 Critics said that change aimed to stifle shareholders’ voices. — Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2021 Red Lines offers vivid examples from around the world indicating the many ways governments, religious authorities, economic interests and others conspire to stifle dissent and silence cartoonists. — Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2021 See More

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

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