as in suffocating
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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
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smothering
Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Overall, Seattle is hardly ever in base defense, utilizing a smothering hybrid scheme, often employing extra DBs in a big nickel look.
—Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
The Celtics opened with one of their most dominant quarters of the season, outscoring the Blazers 32-11 through balanced offense and smothering defense.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
With Stalin’s large standing army smothering half of Europe, and his fledgling nuclear arsenal extending Moscow’s ambitions overseas, America had to scramble.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Last January, fires were raging across Los Angeles, smothering some 20 million people across the region in toxic smoke and ash.
—Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
Mired by the Texans’ smothering defense, Rodgers completed 17-of-33 passes for 146 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception and two fumbles.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Cathedral Catholic Girls soccer Collecting two goals and two assists while playing smothering defense, the senior led the Dons to a 2-0-1 record in the Excalibur Tournament, downing Huntington Beach Edison 1-0 in the finale.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The Jaguars are firmly in the conversation with Liam Coen’s offense running on nitromethane and a defense smothering running games.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Verb
The Seahawks never lost again, capping the season by smothering the New England Patriots in a 29-13 victory in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday night.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Overall, Seattle is hardly ever in base defense, utilizing a smothering hybrid scheme, often employing extra DBs in a big nickel look.
—Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
The Celtics opened with one of their most dominant quarters of the season, outscoring the Blazers 32-11 through balanced offense and smothering defense.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
With Stalin’s large standing army smothering half of Europe, and his fledgling nuclear arsenal extending Moscow’s ambitions overseas, America had to scramble.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Last January, fires were raging across Los Angeles, smothering some 20 million people across the region in toxic smoke and ash.
—Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
Mired by the Texans’ smothering defense, Rodgers completed 17-of-33 passes for 146 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception and two fumbles.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Cathedral Catholic Girls soccer Collecting two goals and two assists while playing smothering defense, the senior led the Dons to a 2-0-1 record in the Excalibur Tournament, downing Huntington Beach Edison 1-0 in the finale.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The Jaguars are firmly in the conversation with Liam Coen’s offense running on nitromethane and a defense smothering running games.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothering
Adjective
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Georgia will surely be ready and focused on its home floor following two consecutive losses, but Bucky Ball and its suffocating style from a fresh A&M team will be too much for the Bulldogs.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
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Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Darnold, Mike Macdonald and a suffocating defense have led the Seahawks to the big stage for the fourth time in franchise history.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Reuters reported that the medals featured a safety clip, intended to snap off when pulled forcefully to prevent the ribbon from strangling.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The Federal Reserve is handcuffed, unable to cut rates without reigniting inflation, yet unable to hold them without strangling growth.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Seahawks defensive front was stifling, sacking Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye six times.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Wolverines’ school-record nine-game winning streak in Big Ten games was snapped by a big and experienced team that plays stifling defense and is led by a 6-foot-7 preseason All-America center who does it all.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And they are not remotely prepared when Harper’s firm puts its full weight behind burying them.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Kabir joined in burying several of his close friends in Woro.—
Pelumi Salako,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Drawing from the histories of women detained for their political beliefs, the work explores how care, resistance and survival persist even under the most oppressive conditions.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Director Tony Williams masterfully curates a mood of oppressive dread from the opening minutes through the bloody climax and explosive final frames, making this one of the very best Australian horror films of all time.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The characteristics and size of the small starch clumps could constitute a choking hazard, said Mondelez Global, which owns the brand, particularly in young children and the elderly.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
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Check your cookie stash for Chips Ahoy products that could contain a choking hazard.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But Vance’s false accusations at last year’s conference – that Europe is suppressing freedom of speech and democracy, and facing civilizational decline – are now enshrined in US national security strategy.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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Reinterpreting the history of slavery has given way to suppressing its memorialization entirely.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jones said her journey to reach this point has been defined by overcoming adversity and a devotion to family.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
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Medical experts and public health leaders say overcoming hesitancy is key in preventing further spread in and around Charlotte, and preventing the rise of other infectious diseases.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothering. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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