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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The outlets said that investigators alleged in the affidavit that Gonzalez strangled Marti with a seatbelt before leaving her in the car.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Berry’s wife said her husband beat her and tried to strangle her shortly before midnight.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Verb
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His growing sense of isolation reverses when a stranger saves him from drowning.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
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Angela Onduto, 47, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the 2009 drowning death of her own daughter, posthumously named Matea Esperanza by the police agency that investigated her.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiate. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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