suffocate

verb suf·fo·cate \ ˈsə-fə-ˌkāt \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: suffocate in a Sentence

Definition of suffocate

suffocated; suffocating

transitive verb

1 a (1) : to stop the respiration of (as by strangling or asphyxiation)

(2) : to deprive of oxygen

b : to make uncomfortable by want of fresh air

2 : to impede or stop the development of

intransitive verb

1 : to become suffocated:

a (1) : to die from being unable to breathe

(2) : to die from lack of oxygen

b : to be uncomfortable through lack of fresh air

2 : to become checked in development

—

suffocation

play \ˌsə-fə-ˈkā-shən\ noun

—

suffocative

play \ˈsə-fə-ˌkā-tiv\ adjective

See suffocate defined for English-language learners

See suffocate defined for kids

Examples of suffocate in a Sentence

Don't put that pillow over her face—she could suffocate.
The poor dog could suffocate in the car on a hot day like this.
The victims were found suffocated.

Recent Examples of suffocate from the Web

Finally, in 2013, Goff landed in an emergency room, nearly suffocating from fluid in her lungs.

— claire altschuler, chicagotribune.com, "Racing against cancer: New efforts to save lives with early detection," 21 May 2018
Four bats suffocated in March 2016 after a researcher placed too many bats in a cage, Alivisatos reported.

— nanette asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, "UC Berkeley researchers’ errors resulted in deaths of 22 lab animals," 16 May 2018
During a stretch earlier in the season in which the Loyola Maryland men’s lacrosse team won five of six games, the defense surrendered an average of 8.2 goals, which is suffocating by the sport’s standards.

— edward lee, baltimoresun.com, "Defense for Loyola Maryland men’s lacrosse to be tested by Virginia in NCAA first round," 11 May 2018
The stroller can easily tip over, the child could suffocate from body positioning, the weight and force put on the handle of the infant seat is not safety tested either.

— lindsey murray, Good Housekeeping, "People Are Slamming Jill Duggar for Her "Dangerous" Stroller Hack," 30 Apr. 2018
Anti-government activists claimed Syrian military helicopters dropped barrel bombs filled with chemicals on Douma, east of the capital Damascus, on Saturday night, suffocating some residents and sending others into violent convulsions.

— sheena mckenzie, tamara qiblawi and fred pleitgen, CNN, "Dozens suffocate in 'horrifying' suspected chemical attack in Syria," 8 Apr. 2018
One night its owners forget to plug it in, and the machine decides on its own to run its gas engine to charge up, suffocating the household with carbon monoxide.

— michael hiltzik, latimes.com, "Self-driving car deaths raise the question: Is society ready for us to take our hands off the wheel?," 3 Apr. 2018
The family’s 10-month-old pet apparently suffocated during the three-hour flight from Houston to New York on Monday.

— cydney henderson, azcentral, "Puppy dies after United flight attendant forced it into an overhead bin," 13 Mar. 2018
The mounds of bones and other fish parts that seafood processors release into the ocean can carpet the seafloor like a gelatinous goo, suffocating life by depleting oxygen in the water, the agency has said.

— alex demarban, Anchorage Daily News, "Seafood processor will pay $300,000 fine for oversized fish waste piles at two Alaska plants," 2 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of suffocate

Middle English, from Latin suffocatus, past participle of suffocare to choke, stifle, from sub- + fauces throat

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

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suffocate Synonyms

SUFFOCATE Defined for English Language Learners

suffocate

verb

Definition of suffocate for English Language Learners

: to die because you are unable to breathe
: to kill (someone) by making breathing impossible
: to be uncomfortable because there is not enough fresh air

SUFFOCATE Defined for Kids

suffocate

verb suf·fo·cate \ ˈsə-fə-ˌkāt \

Definition of suffocate for Students

suffocated; suffocating

1 : to kill by stopping the breathing of or by depriving of oxygen to breathe

2 : to die from being unable to breathe

3 : to be or become choked or smothered

Weeds are suffocating the flowers we planted.

4 : to suffer from lack of fresh air

Medical Dictionary

suffocate

verb suf·fo·cate \ ˈsəf-ə-ˌkāt \

medical Definition of suffocate

suffocated; suffocating

transitive verb

1 : to stop the respiration of (as by strangling or asphyxiation)

2 : to deprive of oxygen

intransitive verb

: to die from being unable to breathe

—

suffocative

play \-ˌkāt-iv\ adjective

Learn More about suffocate

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suffocate

Definition of suffocate

suffocation

suffocative

Examples of suffocate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of suffocate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of suffocate

suffocate Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

SUFFOCATE Defined for English Language Learners

suffocate

Definition of suffocate for English Language Learners

SUFFOCATE Defined for Kids

suffocate

Definition of suffocate for Students

Medical Dictionary

suffocate

medical Definition of suffocate

suffocative

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