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 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
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
Verb
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Heuermann admitted in April to strangling all of his victims over a 17-year span beginning in 1993.
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Heuermann, 62, admitted in April to strangling eight women and leaving their remains in remote areas of Long Island between 1993 and 2010, which have been dubbed the Gilgo Beach killings.
Verb
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Olivia Taylor, the assistant manager of the swim school, says clearing up misconceptions about what drowning actually looks like and getting anyone comfortable in and around the water, are some of the most important parts of teaching someone how to swim.
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Forty-three years ago on June 29, Delaney — the promising Chiefs running back who was the 1981 AFC Rookie of the Year — died trying to save three children drowning in a park in Monroe, Louisiana.
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiating. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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