1
as in choked
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in muted
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in strangled
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifled
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 buried
to defeat by a large margin
the soccer team smothered their first few opponents in the championships, but lost narrowly in the final round
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smothered
Pableaux Johnson, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025
The smothered steak biscuit is available to order in-store and online through January 2026, a Bojangles spokesperson told CharlotteFive.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025
Matt Leclercq, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
The hot dogs, sausage, ham, bacon, pepperoni, bologna and Lunchables in that cold unit also weren’t cool enough and got smothered with Stop Sales.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
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
The novel opens with a writer remembering her 16-year-old self during a transformational period in her life in which all her teenage gestures toward autonomy are preemptively smothered by her mother.
—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
This is followed by, say, a succulent duck pot-au-feu (stew) or the iconic nose-to-tail dish tête de veau (calf's head), smothered with a creamy gribiche sauce, then cervelle de canut, a creamy white cheese with herbs and shallots.
—John Brunton, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
The daughter of Florida migrant workers, Jackie had been smothered with protection by her mother.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
The bun was buttery and slightly sweet, the pickles and mustard lended a bit of tang to the unctuous beef patties smothered in melty American cheese, and the sweet-but-slightly-spicy Sassy Sauce brought it all together without overpowering any other flavors.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
The heady sensuality of Aїnouz’s best films (Invisible Life, Madame Satã) is somewhat smothered by the cold cerebral mischief of Filippou’s writing.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Robust, malty, and melt-in-your-mouth tender, this smothered cabbage recipe will warm your soul and delight your tastebuds.
—Pableaux Johnson, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025
The smothered steak biscuit is available to order in-store and online through January 2026, a Bojangles spokesperson told CharlotteFive.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Of course, loyal customers already knew that, flocking in for hearty meatloaf and smothered pork chops.
—Matt Leclercq, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
The hot dogs, sausage, ham, bacon, pepperoni, bologna and Lunchables in that cold unit also weren’t cool enough and got smothered with Stop Sales.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
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
The novel opens with a writer remembering her 16-year-old self during a transformational period in her life in which all her teenage gestures toward autonomy are preemptively smothered by her mother.
—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
This is followed by, say, a succulent duck pot-au-feu (stew) or the iconic nose-to-tail dish tête de veau (calf's head), smothered with a creamy gribiche sauce, then cervelle de canut, a creamy white cheese with herbs and shallots.
—John Brunton, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
The daughter of Florida migrant workers, Jackie had been smothered with protection by her mother.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
The bun was buttery and slightly sweet, the pickles and mustard lended a bit of tang to the unctuous beef patties smothered in melty American cheese, and the sweet-but-slightly-spicy Sassy Sauce brought it all together without overpowering any other flavors.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
The heady sensuality of Aїnouz’s best films (Invisible Life, Madame Satã) is somewhat smothered by the cold cerebral mischief of Filippou’s writing.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothered
Adjective
-
This manicure plays with two shades of green, a muted olive and a vibrant shamrock.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Guest rooms are decked out in muted coastal blues and offer ocean views, the SEA Wellness Spa specializes in hydrating and anti-aging facials, massages, and nailcare, and a restaurant, lounge, and bar serve a variety of salads, seafood, and cocktails.—
Tim Chester,
Robb Report,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
An autopsy showed Dee Warner was strangled and had suffered blunt force trauma.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Police took the wire Sharrey was strangled with to area farm stores to try to identify who purchased it, but were told the style of wire hadn’t been produced in several years.—
Audrey Abrahams,
NBC news,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Texans were stifled all night, turning the ball over 26 times.—
American-Statesman staff,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
But the surging inflation, lack of a large base of consumers with high disposable incomes, and low broadband access that have challenged other African streaming services have stifled Showmax’s ambitions.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This led investigators to determine that Michael’s body was once buried in the backyard, but moved before the excavation.—
Alex Brizee
March 5,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Peterson was left buried in another family's plot.—
Cheryl Fiandaca,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As the anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis recently showed, local demonstrations often become national news only once protesters’ lives have been imperilled or, worse, extinguished.—
Robert Moor,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Dariusz Stola steered the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw from its founding in 2014 to become a breakthrough in Poland’s recognition of its extinguished Jewish past.—
Shira Li Bartov,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But relying on the military to supplant the role traditionally performed by civilian law enforcement entails risks in a region where military institutions and oversight are weaker, armed forces have a legacy of human rights abuses and corruption is a perennial challenge.—
JOSHUA GOODMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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January’s stronger-than-expected total was likely buoyed by some one-time factors (notably, weaker holiday hiring that meant fewer post-holiday layoffs, and unseasonably warm weather in the early part of the month that boosted industries like construction).—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In his first public comments since the conflict choked Middle East energy shipments, the head of the region’s largest oil producer said Aramco can divert more crude to an alternative route that avoids the Strait of Hormuz.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Roads in the Lebanese capital were choked with evacuating traffic as smoke rose over the city’s southern districts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Across the country, crackdowns suppressed immigrants' health care visits.—
Kate Wells,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
-
When other forms of truth are suppressed, the joke must serve instead.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smothered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothered. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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