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
She had been asphyxiated and then mutilated after her death.
—
Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
Police initially thought Joy had died in an accidental house fire in Bristol Township, Pa., but an autopsy revealed she had been repeatedly stabbed, suffered fractured ribs and was likely asphyxiated, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Medical examiner’s photos displayed Thursday showed swelling to her face and head, internal bleeding and signs that she was asphyxiated, Wallace said.
—Nathaniel Percy, Daily News, 8 Aug. 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
Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
Police initially thought Joy had died in an accidental house fire in Bristol Township, Pa., but an autopsy revealed she had been repeatedly stabbed, suffered fractured ribs and was likely asphyxiated, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Medical examiner’s photos displayed Thursday showed swelling to her face and head, internal bleeding and signs that she was asphyxiated, Wallace said.
—Nathaniel Percy, Daily News, 8 Aug. 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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Reuters reported that the medals featured a safety clip, intended to snap off when pulled forcefully to prevent the ribbon from strangling.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
12 Feb. 2026
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The Federal Reserve is handcuffed, unable to cut rates without reigniting inflation, yet unable to hold them without strangling growth.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Plus, all the discourse surrounding the performance could easily drown out the subtlety of Ford’s inclusion.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
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Louie’s drinking was a way to drown his grief.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiate. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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