smothered 1 of 2

smothered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of smother
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
3

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 smothered
Adjective
Outside of smothered biscuit sandwiches, District Biskuits also sells mac and cheese, chicken tenders with various dipping sauces, waffle fries and other sides. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026 Breakfast is a treat, with made-from-scratch English muffins and housemade jams, plus heartier items like a smothered breakfast burrito. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 Otherwise, Rhoda picks the red rice; Laurence and Oscar pick the hoppin’ John; Anthony and Brittany pick collard greens; Duyen and Brandon pick the smothered cabbage; Justin and Sherry pick potato salad; and Jonathan and Jennifer pick the hoecakes. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026 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
Noah Kim threw two touchdown passes and the Eastern Michigan defense smothered Lindenwood to help post a 29-3 win on Saturday. — CBS News, 26 Sep. 2026 One holdover from the previous establishment is Nettie’s lasagna ($33), a robust slab of bechamel and noodles smothered in cheese — pure comfort food. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026 The 10-ounce Kansas City strip steak comes smothered in steak butter for $40. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026 My life was tied up in electric razor-wire fences and smothered in concrete. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026 One jumper is famous for having smothered miles of flames with his jacket; in Alaska, jumpers have used spruce boughs and burlap bags filled with moss. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 When the restaurant itself opens, diners can also expect to see Giancarlo’s take on his grandmother’s spaghetti & blue crab, smothered in Sunday gravy and spaghetti tossed in the same sauce, topped with fresh basil. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026 Open for breakfast and lunch, the eatery sticks largely to the classics—think omelets, pancakes, eggs Benedict, and plenty of biscuits, best enjoyed smothered in gravy, of course. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026 While Gasper torched the Marlins at the plate, Payton Tolle smothered the Fish from the mound, at least for a while. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothered
Adjective
  • The western island of South Sumatra also battled fires, with more than 1,700 hot spots detected on Sunday, causing a choked haze cloud and reducing visibility to only 10 meters (33 feet) in some areas, the ministry said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • However, that deal fell apart after the US unleashed a fresh wave of attacks on Iran in mid-July, following Iranian strikes on vessels in the choked Strait of Hormuz.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Adjective
  • Related Articles Echoes of Weyant’s paintings of women in muted tones can be seen throughout the interior of her now-for-sale apartment.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Oil prices are lower, the bond market is stable, and yet the major stock averages are having a muted day.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In the first assault, Escudero locked a 16-year-old coworker in his car, then strangled, struck and raped her, according to the release.
    — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 25 Sep. 2026
  • While on the phone with 911, Patrick entered the home and found that Lindsay had strangled the children.
    — Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The Falcons dominated the second half with their offense, and the defense stifled the Packers and quarterback Jordan Love.
    — Rod Beard, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • But the cumbersome requirements for taking the drugs, as well as a series of safety concerns, stifled their use.
    — Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • James made a nifty behind-the-back pass to Edgecombe (who missed a corner 3) and even squared up and buried a long 3 from about Caitlin Clark range.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The difference is buried in management time, attention, optionality and operating friction.
    — George Wells, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • By the time volunteer firefighters from nearby Cachagua arrived, McCord estimated that the fire was about 70% extinguished.
    — Lucy Hodgman, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
  • That conditional pick, acquired in August’s salary dump of Haywood Highsmith, effectively has become extinguished.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • This process can be even more pronounced in smaller galaxies in which the gravitational influence is weaker, and the black holes are less likely to be strongly bound to the galactic center.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Takaichi’s spending plans have drawn attention, raising concerns of debt sustainability and a weaker yen which have pushed Japanese bond yields to multidecade highs.
    — Chloe Taylor,Lee Ying Shan,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The rest of us either quietly grumbled, or our comments were drowned in a sea of nastiness.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • His final words drowned in a din of shouts and sparkling spray, as the Astros feted an aspiration fulfilled.
    — Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 27 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Smothered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothered. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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