1
as in strangling
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifling
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 burying
to defeat by a large margin
the soccer team smothered their first few opponents in the championships, but lost narrowly in the final round
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in suffocating
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothering
Verb
-
He had been arrested for allegedly strangling his then-girlfriend, Johnny Faye Cartwright, in 2020.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
4 Jan. 2025 -
His trouble with the law began in 2020, when he was arrested for allegedly strangling his girlfriend at an Oregon home.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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However, a lack of autonomy growing up can strongly trigger the need for independence and reinforce negative attitudes about how future relationships may continue to be stifling.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
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The core of their legal challenge revolves around claims that the charter agreement breaches antitrust laws by stifling competition.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But Finch was unable to come up with any schematic answers for OKC’s suffocating defense or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ruthlessness on offense.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
-
The stiff feel, plus the suffocating heat of summer in NYC, is a recipe for disaster.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2025
Verb
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He was inspired to learn after watching a teacher use the method to help another student who was choking.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Quick thinking by a 9-year-old boy in North Carolina helped save his friend who started choking at recess.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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His approach promises a more collaborative regulatory framework, fostering innovation rather than suppressing it.—
Leeor Shimron,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
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Instead of suppressing your emotions, practice emotional validation—acknowledge and accept your feelings without judgment.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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For those still experiencing the oppressive heat, here are some tips for how to find your own bit of relief.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
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The oppressive heat and humidity, which have brought triple-digit temperatures across the Midwest and East Coast in recent weeks, have caused the pavement to buckle on roads in a number of states.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2025
Verb
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The younger of the two, Bella, is unscathed; her sister had jumped into a pool to rescue her and ended up drowning herself.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner released its official report on Carter's death on April 18, 2023, attributing his cause of death to drowning after inhaling difluoroethane and taking alprazolam, the generic form of brand-name Xanax.—
Johnny Dodd,
People.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Kids older than one year can be given honey to help neutralize the damage, but swallowing a button battery is a life-threatening emergency for which parents should immediately seek medical care.—
Ryan Murphy,
The Indianapolis Star,
24 Dec. 2024
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Similarly, applying a wellness patch is painless in comparison to swallowing a handful of pills.—
Emily Burns,
WWD,
23 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Smothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothering. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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