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
Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Overall, Seattle is hardly ever in base defense, utilizing a smothering hybrid scheme, often employing extra DBs in a big nickel look.
—Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Oc Register, 22 Nov. 2025
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
The Seahawks never lost again, capping the season by smothering the New England Patriots in a 29-13 victory in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday night.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Overall, Seattle is hardly ever in base defense, utilizing a smothering hybrid scheme, often employing extra DBs in a big nickel look.
—Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
The Titans pulled within 88-77 on a pair of Ward free throws with less than seven minutes left, but the Pilots answered again and Foxwell beat the shot clock with an off-balance, 3-pointer for a 96-80 lead with 3:56 left to smother the comeback bid.
—Oc Register, 22 Nov. 2025
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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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
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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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That influx of Chinese imports could be making its way to American shores—and, in the process, stifling the growth of local industry in the African markets.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Feb. 2026
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Without these oversight measures, the public’s ability to give its input was stifled, the lawsuit alleges.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Only one body was identified by a family, while the others were buried on Friday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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In a report published this month in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, a team from the Australian National University examined the tooth enamel of three individuals buried at the Dong Xa Iron Age burial site in Northern Vietnam.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And as traders bought more, the gains gathered steam, resulting in skyrocketing prices.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Other features include a three-seasons room, a first-floor bedroom and a second-floor primary suite with two walk-in closets and a spa-like bath with heated floors and a steam shower.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Israeli settler violence and settlement expansion has grown, and daily Palestinian life has been choked by movement restrictions and military raids.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
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The partygoers don’t really know how to react until Stab interrupts the performance to choke Kid out, and then everyone becomes horrified.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In August 2025, a judge concluded that Vedam had not been given a fair trial due to prosecutors’ efforts to suppress evidence.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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But dismissing or minimizing disappointment can unintentionally teach children to ignore or suppress emotions.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Parents,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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France’s Eric Perrot overcame a wobble on the final shoot and a late surge from Norway’s Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen to win a sensational first men’s relay gold medal for his country today.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
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While most fungal attempts at infection fail, a small number do succeed thanks to the constant evolutionary pressure on pathogens to overcome host plant defenses.—
Lily Peck,
The Conversation,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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What piles up now melts gradually through spring and summer, feeding rivers, farms, and household taps long after the clouds clear.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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Carnegie Mellon was building a big initiative for an academic cloud lab—$50 million of equipment controlled by a mix of people and robots—and the interface would be via code.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smother. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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