as in strangled
to cause (someone) to stop breathing and often to become unconscious and die
The murder victim was asphyxiated.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of asphyxiated
The 10-mile-high plume asphyxiated around 200,000 residents but also preserved the city in remarkable detail.
—
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
The fine ash preserved the site but asphyxiated 200,000 residents.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 3 June 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
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
The petition, which was granted by a federal judge, cites reports alleging that guards at the facility choked and asphyxiated Campos.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
The fine ash preserved the site but asphyxiated 200,000 residents.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 3 June 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
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
The petition, which was granted by a federal judge, cites reports alleging that guards at the facility choked and asphyxiated Campos.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asphyxiated
Verb
-
Autopsies determined that Shine was strangled and Carse died from sharp force trauma, the police department said.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
-
Cage speared Dax and strangled him with the unbuckled rope.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
And when the co-owner of a vineyard is found dead, drowned in his own wine, the women work to make sense of this seemingly unmotivated murder.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
-
It just is drowned out by a lot of the hate.—
Kimberly Nordyke,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiated. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
