suffocating

1 of 2

adjective

suf·​fo·​cat·​ing ˈsə-fə-ˌkā-tiŋ 

: tending or serving to suffocate or overpower : overwhelming

suffocatingly adverb

suffocating

2 of 2

present participle of suffocate

Synonyms of suffocating

Adjective

• close
• stifling
• breathless
• stuffy

Examples of suffocating in a Sentence

Adjective

inside the bunker it was suffocating, and some of the men had already passed out

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Scientists suspect that the combination of high heat and a suffocating deep-tropical air mass will be considered the worst humidity the region has experienced in the modern era. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Eilish will play Greenwood, the brilliant young woman at the center of Plath’s semi-autobiographical story, which follows her descent into mental illness amid the suffocating expectations placed on women in 1950s America. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 8 Sep. 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1604, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for suffocating

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