as in strangling
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 Synonyms for asphyxiating
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 -
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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Properly extinguish outdoor fires by drowning them with plenty of water, and never leave a fire unattended.—
Cooper Worth,
Des Moines Register,
18 Feb. 2026
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But now that regulations are here, brands and suppliers alike are drowning in it.—
Tara Donaldson,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
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“Asphyxiating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiating. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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