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
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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
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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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Recent Examples of smothering
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
This list includes invasive species that spread across the landscape, smothering everything in their path (like kudzu, of course), as well as fast-growing native species, like trumpet vine and Virginia creeper, which spread quickly and can become a nuisance in yards and gardens.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
The series centers on Bode (Max Thieriot), an ex-con who finds redemption and purpose while smothering flames with the Cal Fire program.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
This list includes invasive species that spread across the landscape, smothering everything in their path (like kudzu, of course), as well as fast-growing native species, like trumpet vine and Virginia creeper, which spread quickly and can become a nuisance in yards and gardens.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothering
Adjective
-
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
-
He’s charged with strangling his former chef in December.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Becky is dehydrated and delirious, but manages to nourish herself after strangling and eating a vulture that attacked her on the platform.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In winter, the air below the peaks can plunge into the Uco Valley, in a stifling zonda wind.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
But Army-Navy’s defense proved too stifling.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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All the Little Animals is a small movie about a young man (Bale) with brain damage suffered in a car accident who comes across a gentle older man (John Hurt) who spends his days burying animals killed on the side of the road.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
-
This prevents smells, reduces the risk of pests, and speeds up breakdown when burying the peels.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There is something oppressive about being tied into everything all the time.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Iran is a bad actor and oppressive state that has suppressed its people and supported terrorism around the world.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Calicut was accused of choking Perkins and cutting her neck while stealing money and a phone from her home in 1999.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Recalled because a mixing error resulted in small cornstarch clumps in the product, resulting in a choking hazard.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In my case, treatment looks like temporarily suppressing the adenomyosis with Lupron injections before attempting another embryo transfer to create the best possible environment for implantation.—
L'Oreal Thompson Payton,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic was violently suppressing antigovernment protests across the country.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Whether a brave, thrilling but ultimately unsuccessful attempt at overcoming a seemingly impossible target of 254 to beat India and reach the T20 World Cup final will be enough to make up for England’s desperately disappointing winter.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
His big struggle was overcoming the same challenge most pitchers face after a long layoff.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothering. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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