smother 1 of 2

Definition of smothernext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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smother

2 of 2

noun

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 smother
Verb
The best slice pizza, according to the guide, comes from L’Industrie Pizzeria in New York, which is known for a slice smothered in Burrata. Connie Ogle may 29, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026 Even Donovan Mitchell’s 31-point performance wasn’t enough to keep Cleveland competitive as the Knicks’ defense smothered the Cavaliers’ perimeter attack for the fourth straight game. Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
Noun
Some of us virtuously recycle items that will be transported across the world to smother island nations in single-use plastic bags and water bottles, milk jugs, yogurt tubs, pet food and potato chip bags, Styrofoam meat trays, Coke bottles, Amazon mailing envelopes, and fast-food wrappers. Caroline Fraser, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 South Grand Prairie smothers Richardson to move on South Grand Prairie got 19 points from Janae Johnson to lead the Warriors to a 41-26 drubbing of Richardson in a Class 6A Division I bi-district game on Monday. Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smother
Verb
  • Angel Guzman, 31, of Los Angeles, was among the four members of the gang MS-13 convicted of murdering three people, one of whom was kidnapped, strangled, attacked with machetes and dismembered, in the Angeles National Forest, federal authorities said.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 June 2026
  • An argument over rent money ended violently for a Miami Beach woman when her ex-boyfriend strangled her, held her against her will and threatened to throw her out of a window from their third-floor apartment, police say.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • But rights groups have criticized the term as it may be discretionarily applied to a broad swath of activities and could be used to stifle freedoms.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 3 June 2026
  • Micromanagement stifles creativity, motivation, and productivity.
    Maria Ross, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Keep the language concrete and avoid burying the point under explanation.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2026
  • This is a racist absurdity in addition to being an impossible read of the Constitution, which is perhaps why the Roberts Court has buried it under so many layers of obfuscation.
    Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Noun
  • Turn off the heat and let steam, covered, 5 minutes more.
    Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
  • Nam grew up in a rural Northern Vietnamese village watching his grandmother treat illness with mugwort steam and herbal bundles.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Hilton has raised crucial issues about Newsom’s overspending, low state K-12 test scores, high taxes choking the middle class, high gas prices and the endemic housing and homelessness crises.
    John Seiler, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
  • As discomforting as that sounds, there is no proof the 7-foot, 9-inch dolphin choked to death, according to Lauren Rust, executive director of the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network and South Carolina Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Economists have cautioned that the US-Israeli war with Iran and the related oil and supply shock could suppress hiring activity in the United States.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
  • His puck-moving play was completely suppressed in the offensive zone, too.
    Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Everyone has a personal obstacle, but not everyone can overcome and survive those obstacles.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 June 2026
  • Over time, however, your pancreas may no longer be able to produce enough insulin to overcome insulin resistance.
    Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Unusual cloud formations took shape above Houston’s highways on Tuesday.
    Ben Noll, Washington Post, 3 June 2026
  • Over the prairie there would be lightning that evening, dropping in shattering bolts from swollen purple clouds.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Smother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smother. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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