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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smothering
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
23 June 2026
The Boston Bruins would like to incorporate the Hurricanes’ smothering defense and relentless attack.
—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
The heat in the car is like an aunt who does not stop smothering us.
—
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
The Tigers’ defense was also smothering all game.
—
Erik Anderson,
Boston Herald,
18 May 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,
18 May 2026
There’s probably a smart, chilling film to be made about the terrors of smothering and relentless adoration — one imagines what Rod Serling would have done with something like this — but this isn’t really that film.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
More recently, massive desalination plants, which often double as electric power plants, have been dumping hot brine that rapidly sinks, smothering life at the Gulf’s bottom, Riegl says.
—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
Plants grow rapidly in spring, smothering weeds and feeding the soil.
—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
Verb
Like English ivy, kudzu spreads very aggressively, smothering out native species and potentially becoming a real problem for your garden.
—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
23 June 2026
The Boston Bruins would like to incorporate the Hurricanes’ smothering defense and relentless attack.
—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
The heat in the car is like an aunt who does not stop smothering us.
—
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
The Tigers’ defense was also smothering all game.
—
Erik Anderson,
Boston Herald,
18 May 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,
18 May 2026
There’s probably a smart, chilling film to be made about the terrors of smothering and relentless adoration — one imagines what Rod Serling would have done with something like this — but this isn’t really that film.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
More recently, massive desalination plants, which often double as electric power plants, have been dumping hot brine that rapidly sinks, smothering life at the Gulf’s bottom, Riegl says.
—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
Plants grow rapidly in spring, smothering weeds and feeding the soil.
—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothering
Adjective
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The Valkyries won their third straight game, defeating the Sparks 78-58 behind a suffocating defensive performance.
-
The Fleet played a suffocating style of hockey, with a strong forecheck and the ability to wear down opponents with relentless offensive-zone pressure.
Verb
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Sochor was convicted of the rape and strangling of 18-year-old Patricia Gifford after meeting her at a New Year's celebration in 1981.
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According to prosecutors, Tabor walked into a Target store, approached a female shopper from behind and began strangling her and covering her mouth and nose.
Verb
-
Candor, without the balance of Humility, Temperance, and Collaboration, risks hardening into rigidity, creating blind spots and stifling relationships.
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There are so many etiquette rules stifling the truth.
Verb
-
The structure suddenly collapsed, burying the people within.
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Since then, the city has touted its success in burying most of its wires while keeping rates competitive with other utilities.
Adjective
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Dealing with extreme heat in India, where oppressive temperatures have become a matter of routine in recent years, revealed another disconnect.
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The Shah was so corrupt and oppressive that the 1979 revolution was almost inevitable.
Verb
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According to the criminal complaint, the boy told police Diggs began choking him before dragging him into the nearby alley.
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Officer Nicholas Samartino of the Woodbridge Police Department responded to a report that a 5-day-old infant was choking and experiencing difficulty breathing back in May, according to police.
Verb
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The migrating dust can move from the African desert more than 5,000 miles westward over the Atlantic and is known for suppressing rainfall and conditions that support hurricanes.
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At a status hearing Wednesday, an attorney for defendant Charles Green argued in favor of suppressing some of the evidence in the case.
Verb
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The strategies aim to do away with piecemeal approaches to overcoming the unique challenges that islands and coastal communities face, offering a comprehensive approach, said Raffaele Fitto, European Commission executive vice president for cohesion and reforms.
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How did overcoming addiction play a role in this album?
Cite this Entry
“Smothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothering. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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