suffocating

adjective

suf·​fo·​cat·​ing ˈsə-fə-ˌkā-tiŋ 

: tending or serving to suffocate or overpower : overwhelming

suffocatingly adverb

Synonyms of suffocating

• close
• stifling
• breathless
• stuffy

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

Georgia will surely be ready and focused on its home floor following two consecutive losses, but Bucky Ball and its suffocating style from a fresh A&M team will be too much for the Bulldogs. —Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026

Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Darnold, Mike Macdonald and a suffocating defense have led the Seahawks to the big stage for the fourth time in franchise history. —CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026

After the 49ers’ explosive offense was dominated by Seattle in Week 18, what buttons can coach Kyle Shanahan press to create some offense against a suffocating Seahawks defense? —Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

Those laughs are balanced with real world issues, and a longing for these gentlewomen locked into the suffocating zeitgeist of early 1800s British Regency. —David John Chávez, Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for suffocating

• abdicating
• abrogating
• activating
• actuating
• advocating
• aggravating
• aggregating
• agitating
• allocating
• alternating
• animating
• annotating