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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smothering
Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
On the table next to Captain Purdie’s bunk is what looks like a copper coin, a fringe of glutinous seaweed smothering it to the surface of the wood.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Tight end Dalton Kincaid continues to be a steady target in the middle of the field, and the Buffalo defense has been just as dominant, smothering passing attacks and forcing timely turnovers.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Liam Berlien was credited with smothering the ball, giving his team a first down at the East Ridge 7-yard line.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
Both of the Ichabods’ touchdowns in this game came on screen passes, which was easily the most effective way Washburn attacked an otherwise smothering defense.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
An offseason of change came to fruition under the lights at Bank of America Stadium on Friday night, with first-year head coach Dowell Loggains’ Appalachian State Mountaineers smothering the Charlotte 49ers from start to finish, grabbing a 34-11 season-opening victory.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2025
Naomi is a textbook Jewish mother, nagging and cajoling and smothering her children with logorrheic abandon.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
Led by Parker, Allen has star power and depth reminiscent of the smothering 2017 to 2019 units the allowed less than 290 yards per game.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The Agfabric frost blanket is a simple way to protect plants from frost, wind and pests without smothering them.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
On the table next to Captain Purdie’s bunk is what looks like a copper coin, a fringe of glutinous seaweed smothering it to the surface of the wood.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Tight end Dalton Kincaid continues to be a steady target in the middle of the field, and the Buffalo defense has been just as dominant, smothering passing attacks and forcing timely turnovers.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Liam Berlien was credited with smothering the ball, giving his team a first down at the East Ridge 7-yard line.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
Both of the Ichabods’ touchdowns in this game came on screen passes, which was easily the most effective way Washburn attacked an otherwise smothering defense.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
An offseason of change came to fruition under the lights at Bank of America Stadium on Friday night, with first-year head coach Dowell Loggains’ Appalachian State Mountaineers smothering the Charlotte 49ers from start to finish, grabbing a 34-11 season-opening victory.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2025
Naomi is a textbook Jewish mother, nagging and cajoling and smothering her children with logorrheic abandon.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
Led by Parker, Allen has star power and depth reminiscent of the smothering 2017 to 2019 units the allowed less than 290 yards per game.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothering
Verb
-
China, in turn, imposed new strangling restrictions on the export of seven rare earth minerals.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Prosecutors accuse Haile of strangling Kathleen Carrig, then setting fire to their apartment with gasoline, the outlet reported.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The space was stifling in the Louisiana heat, so fans were blowing for everyone inside.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Like the face-to-face collaboration benefits lost at GISS, employees fear shutting down Goddard's cafeteria will be stifling.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Recently that ranged from a man in his 70s who lost his childhood sweetheart to cancer to a woman who was burying her beloved horse.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
-
In the Balkans and Turkey, some traditional recipes called for dropping ants into warm milk, covering it with cheesecloth, and burying the whole thing in an ant mound overnight.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Doors and windows were locked, producing a suffocating effect in the hot weather.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
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For Perrie Edwards, the studio can be both a sanctuary and a suffocating cocoon.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Aneesha reacts instantly, tackling Verna to the ground and choking her.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
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Instead, Lane attacked Wilkins, choking her into unconsciousness and cutting open her womb.—
Jillian Frankel,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, IUDs primarily work by suppressing the release of eggs, or by preventing sperm from reaching an egg.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
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According to unrebutted scientific research, males have up to a 64% strength advantage in powerlifting and suppressing testosterone only reduces the advantage by about 10%.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Penix and London, along with Bijan Robinson, have been heavily involved in Atlanta's offense this season, so regardless of who the opponent is missing, overcoming the loss of your starting quarterback and leading pass catcher will be a tough task.—
Cameron Belcher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
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But there's also a lot of stories of people overcoming a lot of obstacles, and that's synonymous with what Kayla has done.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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After a summer of oppressive heat, October is when New York City hits its stride.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
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Raducanu had her blood pressure taken during the match, which was played in oppressive heat and humidity, before retiring down 6-1, 4-1.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothering. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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