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

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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
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 Glazed baby back ribs, satisfyingly sticky and spiced with gochujang, come smothered with melting mozzarella for crazy long cheese pulls on Chicago-style, falling-off-the-bone pork. Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 Fans of everything smothered, covered, and chunked in metro Atlanta have the chance to try out a potentially new item on Waffle House's menu. Dan Raby, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 The students were smart, curious and desperate to escape a communist system that had smothered their families’ ambitions for decades. Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Soldiers marched the victims to bomb craters at Kamianets-Podilskyi and turned machine guns on them; they were either shot or smothered. Usa Today, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 Golden State’s defense smothered the Los Angeles Sparks for much of the 84-78 victory, their fourth in a row to sweep a two-game trip. Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026 The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit. Tonya Mosley, NPR, 10 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
  • Overnight, the British market's reaction to Keir Starmer's resignation remained relatively muted.
    , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Featuring warm neutrals, earthy tones, muted pinks, clay hues, and airy blues, the palette includes shades inspired by nature—from sandy beaches to golden autumn leaves.
    Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Court documents said Vecchio allegedly punched the victim multiple times in the face and then strangled the victim with both hands before kneeing her in the face.
    Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • On January 24, 2023, allegedly in the grip of this psychosis, Clancy strangled her three children, who were five years, three years, and eight months old, in the basement of their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, an affluent suburb of Boston.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Youri Tielemans and Santos, United’s new midfield partnership, were hooked on 67 minutes, showing the extent to which Hull had stifled them.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Washington also seemed to open up the playbook, with downfield passing concepts that confused Miami defensive backs and pressure packages that stifled the Dolphins offensive line.
    David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Four-month-old Maytie Raker was buried in 1906 without a grave marker.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • More than 600 people have been killed, homes buried to the ground and entire villages washed away in the aftermath.
    Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 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
  • The heat has caused a fall in nuclear generation, with power plants forced to shut down or reduce production across the region, while wind power generation has been weak over the summer.
    Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The state financial watchdog attributed the disbursement problems to administrative delays, weak project management, and late counterpart funding from the Congolese government.
    Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Almost exactly a year ago, a 17-year-old Evanston boy drowned after going underwater near a breakwall at Lighthouse Beach.
    Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • What few cheers came from the fans were drowned out by loud boos.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Smothered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothered. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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