as in strangled
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 asphyxiated
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
Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asphyxiated
Verb
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Detectives determined that Spillers had been strangled based on bruising that could be seen on her neck, detectives wrote in the affidavit.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Oct. 2025
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The criticism even included attacks on her appearance and calls for her to be burned, raped or strangled.—
Janelle Griffith,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The muted pequin peppers are drowned by musty garlic powder.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Oct. 2025
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The most serious was in late 2022, when two of Ginger's tiger cubs drowned after falling into a partially frozen pond.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiated. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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