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 burns cause swelling, the airways close, and the victim can asphyxiate.
—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
22 May 2026
Tarrant County prosecutors said Busby and an accomplice abducted Crane, 77, from a grocery store parking lot, robbed her and then asphyxiated her with duct tape, wrapping 14 layers around her face.
—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
The indictment charges Horner with strangling, smothering or asphyxiating Athena while in the course of kidnapping her.
—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
Like being asphyxiated in a ball pit filled with candy, the experience of watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is at once kaleidoscopic and nerve-wracking.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
22 May 2026
Tarrant County prosecutors said Busby and an accomplice abducted Crane, 77, from a grocery store parking lot, robbed her and then asphyxiated her with duct tape, wrapping 14 layers around her face.
—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
The indictment charges Horner with strangling, smothering or asphyxiating Athena while in the course of kidnapping her.
—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
Like being asphyxiated in a ball pit filled with candy, the experience of watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is at once kaleidoscopic and nerve-wracking.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asphyxiate
Verb
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Tree experts found the root system strangled and starved.
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But one of the largest rural unions behind the road blockades that had strangled La Paz on Saturday called for a pause in the conflict and ordered protesters to withdraw until next week to assess the situation following the declaration of a state of emergency.
Verb
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As Vermax struggles to stay above water and begins to drown, Jace frees himself from his mount and reaches the surface.
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French media reported that four children drowned Saturday.
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiate. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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