1
as in to strangle
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
the law requires the owner of a discarded refrigerator to remove its door so that a child won't get trapped inside and suffocate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suffocate
That design choice is what makes the whole series feel so suffocating — you’re trapped inside Rachel’s dread.
—
Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The Wave have been suffocating teams defensively, and that continued on Saturday night, with Chicago not recording a shot until the 70th minute.
—Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Today, two small new volcanoes are growing out of its bay, and another one called Kolumbo — capable of producing fearsome tsunamis and clouds of suffocating gases — lurks underwater just offshore.
—Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Panicked employees leaped into elevator shafts, were crushed at exits, suffocated in smoke, burned, or trapped by flames.
—Christina Ray Stanton, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The Wave have been suffocating teams defensively, and that continued on Saturday night, with Chicago not recording a shot until the 70th minute.
—Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Today, two small new volcanoes are growing out of its bay, and another one called Kolumbo — capable of producing fearsome tsunamis and clouds of suffocating gases — lurks underwater just offshore.
—Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Panicked employees leaped into elevator shafts, were crushed at exits, suffocated in smoke, burned, or trapped by flames.
—Christina Ray Stanton, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocate
Verb
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The following month, a hit squad, reportedly acting on bin Salman’s orders, strangled Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist who had been critical of the regime, and used a bone saw to dismember his corpse.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Invasive vines like Virginia creeper, English ivy, and buckthorn can strangle trees, for example, and some aggressive trees may spread via underground suckers and roots.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some victims were physically assaulted, including one person who was choked to the point of nearly losing consciousness, according to court documents.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Iran controls the Straits of Hormuz, trade — especially in vital oil — is choked, and the price of gas at the pump already exceeds $4 a gallon.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An oral rehydration solution typically used to treat dehydration from diarrhea or vomiting in children.—
Brandi Jones,
Verywell Health,
1 Apr. 2026
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Shortly after, Jack started vomiting and having seizures.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Eclipses give solar scientists a rare chance to study the sun's wispy outer atmosphere, or corona, which is usually drowned out by the overwhelming glare of the solar disk.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
5 Apr. 2026
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When the Huskies took the court here, they were booed roundly and Hurley’s postgame interview with CBS was nearly drowned by the catcalls.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When his team returned to the deep-sea site, however, its brilliant colors were smothered under a blanket of fluffy gray scum.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Servers also handed out Impossible nuggets smothered in mustard, which vanished just as fast.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Suffocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocate. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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