suffocating
adjective
suf·fo·cat·ing
ˈsə-fə-ˌkā-tiŋ 
: tending or serving to suffocate or overpower : overwhelming
suffocatingly
adverb
Examples of suffocating in a Sentence
inside the bunker it was suffocating, and some of the men had already passed out
Recent Examples on the Web
The Valkyries won their third straight game, defeating the Sparks 78-58 behind a suffocating defensive performance.
—
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
The Fleet played a suffocating style of hockey, with a strong forecheck and the ability to wear down opponents with relentless offensive-zone pressure.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Following a first week marked by a suffocating heatwave, relief finally arrived in Paris on Sunday, with temperatures dropping to 21 degrees C (70 F) around midday.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
This matchup features two ascendant young stars in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama (who finished first and third in MVP voting, respectively), exciting young talent, a legitimate regional rivalry and two suffocating defenses.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocating
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Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
The Fleet played a suffocating style of hockey, with a strong forecheck and the ability to wear down opponents with relentless offensive-zone pressure.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Following a first week marked by a suffocating heatwave, relief finally arrived in Paris on Sunday, with temperatures dropping to 21 degrees C (70 F) around midday.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
This matchup features two ascendant young stars in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama (who finished first and third in MVP voting, respectively), exciting young talent, a legitimate regional rivalry and two suffocating defenses.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocating
Cite this Entry
“Suffocating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffocating. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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