suffocate

verb

suf·​fo·​cate ˈsə-fə-ˌkāt 

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

ˌsə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

suffocative

ˈsə-fə-ˌkā-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms

• strangle
• choke
• drown
• smother

Examples of suffocate in a Sentence

The poor dog could suffocate in the car on a hot day like this.

Don't put your head in a plastic bag—you could suffocate.

Recent Examples on the Web

More capital might benefit some borrowers, but more frequently would suffocate companies with greater debt burdens. —Mike Terwilliger, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025

His father, Joseph, had been suffocated with a plastic bag over his head, held in place with a belt. —Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025

Nelson beat Arlington pastor Clinton Dobson and suffocated him with a plastic bag. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025

Sheep’s wool is also highly damaging to vital river systems, as excrement from the UK’s 31 million sheep and chemical sheep dips run into waterways, causing suffocating eutrophication. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin suffōcātus, past participle of suffōcāre "to stifle, choke, deprive of air, squeeze together," from suf-, assimilated form of sub- sub- + -fōcāre, verbal derivative of fauc-, faux (ordinarily in plural faucēs) "upper part of the throat, pharynx, windpipe," of obscure origin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Rhymes for suffocate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

suffocate

verb

suf·​fo·​cate ˈsəf-ə-ˌkāt 

suffocated; suffocating

1

a

: to stop the breathing of (as by strangling)

b

: to deprive of oxygen

c

: to make uncomfortable by want of fresh air

2

: to become suffocated

especially : to die or suffer from being unable to breathe or from lack of oxygen

suffocation

ˌsəf-ə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

suffocate

verb

suf·​fo·​cate ˈsəf-ə-ˌkāt 

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

-ˌkāt-iv 

adjective