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
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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
ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
The standout point from the opening 45 minutes is that PSG have to be better against Bayern’s press — arguably these are Europe’s two best sides for squeezing and smothering opponents.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
But now they got broken into six smothering rooms, or ten, or maybe a dozen.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Wallstedt polished off the first Stars' power play by snapping his glove around Mikko Rantanen's shot and smothering Esa Lindell's bad-angle attempt.
—CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Burton shared this adorable flick of Morgan smothering their firstborn in kisses.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
The Rockets are a physical team that also plays smothering defense.
—Broderick Turner
follow, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
That’s because the universe was full of relatively cool, light-smothering hydrogen, which scarcely emitted any light of its own.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
The indictment charges Horner with strangling, smothering or asphyxiating Athena while in the course of kidnapping her.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Though Edwards and DiVincenzo are their two best 3-point shooters and offensive creators, a revival of the smothering defense that fueled the rally in Game 2 and blowout wins in Games 3 and 4 will be the biggest key to the Timberwolves taking the series.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
The standout point from the opening 45 minutes is that PSG have to be better against Bayern’s press — arguably these are Europe’s two best sides for squeezing and smothering opponents.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
But now they got broken into six smothering rooms, or ten, or maybe a dozen.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Wallstedt polished off the first Stars' power play by snapping his glove around Mikko Rantanen's shot and smothering Esa Lindell's bad-angle attempt.
—CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Burton shared this adorable flick of Morgan smothering their firstborn in kisses.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
The Rockets are a physical team that also plays smothering defense.
—Broderick Turner
follow, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
That’s because the universe was full of relatively cool, light-smothering hydrogen, which scarcely emitted any light of its own.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
The indictment charges Horner with strangling, smothering or asphyxiating Athena while in the course of kidnapping her.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 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
-
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
-
Horner told a false story about hitting the little girl with his van and then strangling her in a panic, according to testimony of the case’s lead investigator, Texas Ranger Job Espinoza.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2026
-
He’s accused of strangling Anna Kepner while the two of them shared a room on the Carnival Horizon.—
David Goodhue
April 29,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While some can be overbearingly hot, the hammam here is kept at the perfect temperature with just the right amount of steam, never stifling or claustrophobic.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
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Rudy Gobert followed his inspired Game 2 effort against Nikola Jokic by stifling the three-time MVP again on an ugly 7-for-26 shooting night, and the Timberwolves established a postseason franchise record by allowing the Nuggets just 11 points in the tone-setting first quarter.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Even worse, local governments are starting to follow suit, holding meetings and burying documents in secrecy when the truth is politically inconvenient.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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According to officials, a tank containing 50,000 gallons of asphalt failed and spilled, burying the victim under three feet of asphalt.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
An especially visually striking debut, Mosquitoes exists in a saturated hyperreality that is consummately engrossing, and announces the Bertani sisters as formidable portraitists of girlhood cast against the backdrop of an alternately beautiful and oppressive world.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Snakes, freeways, difficult men and Didion’s quiet brutality hang in the air like the oppressive heat of this unusually warm spring day.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jurors then heard sounds of banging and choking — and Athena screaming and crying, the Star-Telegram reports.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
-
How about allegedly choking a live-in chef?—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The variable nobody can control Geopolitical uncertainty, especially the war in Iran, is raising volatility in rates and suppressing demand worldwide.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
2 May 2026
-
In many cases, survival required suppressing fear, sadness and even physical pain.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
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More Than One Way to Survive in Business Entrepreneurs have been positioned to accept that overcoming the competition is the only way to succeed in business, but there may be other paths forward.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
The Blackbeard project aims to achieve all this while overcoming the obstacles that have hindered previous attempts at hypersonic weaponry.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothering. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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