stifle

1 to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air unfortunately, the robbers were stifled when they got trapped in the airless bank vault Synonyms choke, smother, strangle, suffocateRelated Words garrote (or garotte), throttle; asphyxiate; drown; croak [slang], destroy, dispatch, do in, fell, slayNear Antonyms breathe, exhale, expire, inhale, inspire; resuscitate, revive

2 to refrain from openly showing or uttering stifled a yawn Synonyms choke (back), hold back, pocket, repress, sink, smother, suppress, strangle, submerge, swallowRelated Words control, govern, manage; bridle, check, curb, quash, quell; bottle up, contain; muffle, squelchNear Antonyms express, loose, release, take out, unleash, vent

3 to deaden the sound of he stifled a cough with his hand Synonyms mute, muffleRelated Words insulate, soundproof; pad; dampen, mellow, soften, subdue, tone (down); baffle; smotherNear Antonyms amplify, boost, deepen, enhance, heighten, increase, magnify, step up, strengthenAntonyms unmuffle