1
as in to strangle
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 & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to suppress
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
stifled a yawn
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stifle
On the flip side, boosting Fox content while stifling everything else could be bad for overall engagement in the long run.
—
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
However, the 22-year-old Melbourne City goalkeeper did on the day with multiple saves that stifled Turkey.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 14 June 2026
The favourites for the tournament include Spain, France, Argentina and, yes, England; but much will depend on how well squads adapt to the stifling heat, games at high altitude, and having to play across four different time zones.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 13 June 2026
At the June 1 hearing, her lawyer compared the law to anti-SLAPP laws that are supposed to deter defamation suits that are actually designed to stifle speech (per Courthouse News Service).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
However, the 22-year-old Melbourne City goalkeeper did on the day with multiple saves that stifled Turkey.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 14 June 2026
The favourites for the tournament include Spain, France, Argentina and, yes, England; but much will depend on how well squads adapt to the stifling heat, games at high altitude, and having to play across four different time zones.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 13 June 2026
At the June 1 hearing, her lawyer compared the law to anti-SLAPP laws that are supposed to deter defamation suits that are actually designed to stifle speech (per Courthouse News Service).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifle
Verb
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He had been arrested for allegedly strangling his then-girlfriend, Johnny Faye Cartwright, in 2020.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 June 2026
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Another was strangled and left in an alley, and a third died from blunt-force trauma to the head, prosecutors said.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
Verb
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But suppressing undesirable emotions is not only impossible but also not all that helpful.—
Dr. Deepika Chopra,
Flow Space,
16 June 2026
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Among the combinations studied, the team found that electron leakage could be suppressed at dimensions below 4 nanometers, suggesting future transistors may be scaled even further than current technologies allow.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Verb
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But these suites are also closest to the elevators, and the historic walls don’t adequately muffle the sounds of other guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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Nolan's team and IMAX worked together to create a special housing for the camera to muffle the sound of its operation.—
Will Croxton,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Police say after entering the store, Tabor allegedly randomly picked out a woman and started choking her.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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Connecticut’s largest cities also struggle with the state’s highest property tax rates, which chokes business growth and, in turn, shifts more burden onto residential owners.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Beneath what looks like solid snow can lie hidden pools of icy water capable of swallowing people, vehicles, and scientific equipment without warning.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
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The other man stabbed in the neck complained that the wound, which required three stitches, affected his ability to swallow and eat, prosecutors said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The creamy, rich, and cheesy potato dish is perfect alongside a short stack of pancakes smothered in their addictive butter syrup.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
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One night in 1983, the two smothered Smith’s kitchen in corn kernels.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Verb
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His arrest came during a years-long crackdown on civil society and dissent, which began following mass protests in 2018 that the government violently repressed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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His arrest came during a yearslong crackdown on civil society and dissent, which began following mass protests in 2018 that the government violently repressed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Nevertheless—as Rooney often captures well in her novels—the reason that sharing life with men can feel like slow violence is ultimately not the men themselves (not in many cases, at least) but, rather, the hierarchies that, flowing through us all, elevate them and suffocate us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
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But against a suffocating new-look defense spearheaded by Williams, the Valkyries stifled Plum to the tune of a season-low nine points on 3-of-10 shooting and just 2 of 3 from the free throw line.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifle. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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