asphyxiating

verb

present participle of asphyxiate
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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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 asphyxiating The indictment charges Horner with strangling, smothering or asphyxiating Athena while in the course of kidnapping her. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026 Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, then knelt on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes, asphyxiating him. — Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asphyxiating
  1. strangling
  2. drowning
Verb
  • After strangling the children in the basement of her home with exercise bands, Clancy attempted to kill herself by jumping out of the window of her Duxbury home, leaving her paralyzed.
    — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Prosecutors allege that Lindsay methodically planned the murders by sending her husband to pick up medication and takeout, and then strangling the children with exercise bands at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of strangling
Verb
  • If the work is technical and rigorous, make that clear without drowning it in jargon.
    — Marsha Murray, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Their jobs require endurance and discipline, as they not only rescue swimmers who are drowning.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of drowning

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asphyxiates
asphyxiating
aspirant
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Cite this Entry

“Asphyxiating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiating. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on asphyxiating

Nglish: Translation of asphyxiating for Spanish Speakers

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