1
as in to strangle
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
children should never play inside discarded appliances because they could become trapped and smother
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
he quickly smothered his inappropriate laughter at the funeral ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to bury
to defeat by a large margin
the soccer team smothered their first few opponents in the championships, but lost narrowly in the final round
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smother
Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Less than a mile away, the corps is planning to deepen and widen the shipping channel leading into Port Everglades, blasting through the reef line and dredging up sediment that could smother acres of surrounding coral, according to federal scientists.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
When Chelsea try to move through the centre, Sunderland smother it and have the chance to counter — but show crucial patience.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smother
Verb
Israel attacked oil depots on Sunday, igniting huge fires that smothered Tehran in thick, choking smoke, amid what residents have said is the heaviest bombing of the war so far.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Less than a mile away, the corps is planning to deepen and widen the shipping channel leading into Port Everglades, blasting through the reef line and dredging up sediment that could smother acres of surrounding coral, according to federal scientists.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
At Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, Mediterranean scrub smothers steep hillsides that edge abruptly to meet a surreal, gin-clear water.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
When Chelsea try to move through the centre, Sunderland smother it and have the chance to counter — but show crucial patience.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smother
Verb
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Jorge Landeros, 56, was sentenced to 25 years in prison more than a decade after reportedly fatally beating and strangling a 52-year-old American University accounting professor in her Maryland home.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
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Willacy reportedly struck Sather in the head several times with a blunt object, then bound her hands and ankles before attempting to strangle her with a telephone cord.—
News Service Of Florida,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The future Hall of Famer had been successfully stifled in the second half of Monday’s game, with the Lakers double-teaming him into five turnovers and just two points.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
19 Mar. 2026
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Above all, will Bradley keep the Wildcats focused and confident if the flow of the game shifts against them and the pressure turns stifling?—
Jon Wilner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To be buried with a drum, perhaps, gave one an advantage in the afterlife.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The same process happened with the government’s attempt to dismantle the Palestinian Authority in order to kill and bury the hope for Palestinian self-determination.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike its predecessor, the new carrier will feature electromagnetic catapults instead of steam systems.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
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At a time when some manufacturers, like Mercedes and BMW, are pausing deployment of their more advanced Level 3 autonomous driving systems, Rivian is going full steam ahead.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Like other invasive plants, stinknet chokes native plants and increases fire risk.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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With fuel and freight prices skyrocketing as war chokes the Strait of Hormuz, the Panama Canal is seeing more business than usual.—
Elizabeth González,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Basij forces are a volunteer paramilitary militia, a branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which Israel says was responsible for violently suppressing street protests against the Iranian government earlier this year.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
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These actions are part of a sweeping anti-public strategy to undermine knowledge, suppress dissent and shift our culture toward a dangerous paradigm.—
Megan Thiele Strong,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Hornets overcame foul trouble and a big free-throw discrepancy to win Tuesday.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Israel has also struck oil facilities, causing toxic, black rain to fall and thick clouds of black smoke to billow around Tehran, affecting civilians.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Under a few clouds, temperatures quickly drop back below freezing outside of the Beltway this evening.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smother. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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