stifle

1 of 2

verb

sti·​fle ˈstī-fəl 

stifled; stifling ˈstī-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to withhold from circulation or expression

stifled our anger

b

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

c

: deter, discourage

intended to stifle dissent

2

a(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

stifler

ˈstī-f(ə-)lər 

noun

stiflingly

ˈstī-f(ə-)liŋ-lē 

adverb

stifle

2 of 2

noun

: 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

Synonyms of stifle

Verb

• strangle
• choke
• smother
• suffocate

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Aaron Peskin, a former San Francisco supervisor and outspoken progressive, said a law Wiener wrote inadvertently stifled local housing and affordability efforts. —ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026

This is a Villa team with the lowest net spend of any team in the top flight (£31million or $42m at current exchange rates), following a tumultuous summer in which they were stifled by financial restrictions. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026

Business and technology groups have opposed the bill, arguing that the new regulations and the right to sue would stifle investment in AI-powered learning tools. —Adam Echelman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026

Ben Jaggers finds motivation from an unfortunate disqualification that stifled his bid for a medal last year. —Rick Cantu, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English stuflen

Noun

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

1513, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2b

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stifle

• hyphal
• rifle
• trifle

Kids Definition

stifle

verb

sti·​fle

ˈstī-fəl

stifled; stifling

-f(ə-)liŋ

1

: to kill by depriving of or die from lack of oxygen or air : smother

2

: to keep in check by deliberate effort : repress

trying to stifle a sneeze

stiflingly

-f(ə-)liŋ-lē

adverb

Medical Definition

stifle

noun

sti·​fle ˈstī-fəl 

: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (as a horse) corresponding to the knee in humans