1
as in choked
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in muted
Related Words
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
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
Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Sexyy tries to ride the beat with ad-libs but gets smothered by the arrangement.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026
No more going in after the bar and crushing a plate of smothered, covered and chunked.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
This special baked version of Southern chicken salad will knock your socks off, especially since it's smothered with potato chips and two types of cheese.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
For the second game in a row, Mike Hastings’ Wisconsin Badgers smothered their opponent for much of the 60 minutes.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
When temperatures drop, turn to comfort-food classics (like breaded or smothered pork chops) and serve them with one of our favorite hearty mashed potato recipes.
—Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2026
In the other corner, a young artist whose ambition was smothered and has entered his orbit under false pretenses.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026
Authorities say the mother smothered the 3-week-old to death, then formulated a fake story with the father to try to get away with it.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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
With Smart’s unwavering defensive commitment, the Lakers smothered the Rockets in Game 1 and were just as effective in Game 2 when Durant made his series debut after missing the first game because of a right knee contusion.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Sexyy tries to ride the beat with ad-libs but gets smothered by the arrangement.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026
No more going in after the bar and crushing a plate of smothered, covered and chunked.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
This special baked version of Southern chicken salad will knock your socks off, especially since it's smothered with potato chips and two types of cheese.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
For the second game in a row, Mike Hastings’ Wisconsin Badgers smothered their opponent for much of the 60 minutes.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
When temperatures drop, turn to comfort-food classics (like breaded or smothered pork chops) and serve them with one of our favorite hearty mashed potato recipes.
—Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2026
In the other corner, a young artist whose ambition was smothered and has entered his orbit under false pretenses.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026
Authorities say the mother smothered the 3-week-old to death, then formulated a fake story with the father to try to get away with it.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothered
Adjective
-
San Franciscans who think Muni buses are always packed, or prone to crawl along choked streets, may find their views validated in a new slide presentation released by the Municipal Transportation Agency.—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The château’s striking original facade somehow melds serendipitously with the contemporary interior, which exudes calm thanks to natural stone, fine woods, and muted fabrics throughout.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
For a more elevated take on the duo, Browning suggests a more muted approach.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
She was found strangled to death, and despite what authorities described as an extensive investigation at the time, the case went cold the following year.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
However, after some of his friends started to come forward, police eventually learned that Griffith had strangled Flores Narvaez to death during a heated argument.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In response, Varsity and USASF have argued that the Open Championship’s own growth, both in terms of participant numbers and event revenue, undermines the notion that the defendants illegally stifled competition.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The Angels’ offense was stifled in a 10-inning, 3-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners during their home opener Friday night in front of 44,931 fans at Angel Stadium.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The houses, deemed radioactive, had been levelled and buried, along with the apple orchard.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This idea that just sitting with your face buried in your phone when you’re supposed to be in a social setting—that’s lame, right?—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 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
-
Viel made a weak pass that led to the goal but had a strong hit on McDavid in the opening 20 minutes as well.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
With the uncertainty caused by the war with Iran, the price of oil going through the roof, and tariffs complicating company supply chains, analysts expected the labor market to get weaker.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the time he was gone, his daughter nearly drowned and his son swallowed an unknown amount of pool water while trying to get her out of the water, paramedics told police in the arrest report.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Police are investigating the death of a woman who drowned while competing in the Ironman Texas triathlon.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smothered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothered. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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