as in to strangle
to cause (someone) to stop breathing and often to become unconscious and die
The murder victim was asphyxiated.
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Recent Examples of asphyxiate
Cartman then attempts and fails to asphyxiate himself — and Butters — in a car for the rest of the episode.
—
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 July 2025
Spota was the working prosecutor on the case of Johnny Pius, a young boy who was found beaten and asphyxiated in his Smithtown, Long Island schoolyard in April 1979.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2025
In court, his lawyers argued that officers compressed his chest with their body weight, leading him to asphyxiate.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025
That same year, a 42-year-old man asphyxiated during a donut eating contest.
—Paula Cohen, CBS News, 4 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 July 2025
Spota was the working prosecutor on the case of Johnny Pius, a young boy who was found beaten and asphyxiated in his Smithtown, Long Island schoolyard in April 1979.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2025
In court, his lawyers argued that officers compressed his chest with their body weight, leading him to asphyxiate.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025
That same year, a 42-year-old man asphyxiated during a donut eating contest.
—Paula Cohen, CBS News, 4 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asphyxiate
Verb
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From the outset of its full-scale invasion, Russia sought to strangle Ukraine’s economy by cutting off its maritime access.—
ANDRIY ZAGORODNYUK,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Sep. 2025
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That potential was strangled, Du Bois writes in this book, an essential look at governance and betrayal in America.—
Zephyr Teachout,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The 46-year-old former country star and 42-year-old actress suffered a tragedy in 2019 when their 3-year-old son River drowned in the pool outside their Texas home.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
28 Sep. 2025
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Birria and tortas ahogadas, a sandwich drowned in red salsa, are local staples, perfect for recovering after a long night out.—
David Shortell,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiate. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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