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
The vocals mutate like asphyxiated Wingdings and aborted thoughts.
—
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Dec. 2025
Teddy is found, bound and asphyxiated, in Cooper’s bedroom, which Aggie cannot bear to enter.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
She had been asphyxiated and then mutilated after her death.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
In Oregon in February 2023, a 23-month-old child was asphyxiated after his shirt got caught on one of the hooks while climbing and crawling through the opening at the back of the play kitchen where the toy kitchen accessories are held, per the CPSC.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Dec. 2025
Teddy is found, bound and asphyxiated, in Cooper’s bedroom, which Aggie cannot bear to enter.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
She had been asphyxiated and then mutilated after her death.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
In Oregon in February 2023, a 23-month-old child was asphyxiated after his shirt got caught on one of the hooks while climbing and crawling through the opening at the back of the play kitchen where the toy kitchen accessories are held, per the CPSC.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asphyxiate
Verb
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Dispatchers told officers that the man who called 911 confessed to strangling his grandmother to death, McCabe said.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2026
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This caused an argument to break out between the two, during which McFarlin strangled Divodi-Lessa.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Police are investigating the death of a woman who drowned while competing in the Ironman Texas triathlon.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
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By the first chorus, his voice was nearly drowned out by the sound of the audience, thousands of voices pushing the song forward together.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiate. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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