stifle

verb

ˈstī-fəl How to pronounce stifle (audio)
Definition of stiflenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to suppress
to refrain from openly showing or uttering stifled a yawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to muffle
to deaden the sound of he stifled a cough with his hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stifle Temperatures Friday were due to rise to 36 C (97 F) in Kumamoto city, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, after stifling 35 C (95 F) heat on Thursday. — ABC News, 30 July 2026 Judge Lebovits ruled in favor with the Times according to New York State’s Anti-SLAPP law, which protects against baseless legal proceedings stemming from attempts to stifle the press or free speech. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 28 July 2026 Both countries depend on each other to stifle Kurdish separatism. — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Clubs who have stifled investment into their women’s team regularly cite a challenge of sustainability or loss of revenue for doing so, most recently Southampton. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifle
  1. strangle
  2. suppress
  3. muffle
  4. choke
  5. swallow
  6. smother
  7. repress
  8. suffocate
Verb
  • Prosecutors allege that Clancy methodically planned the murders by sending her husband to pick up medication and takeout, and then strangling the children with exercise bands at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home while he was gone.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
  • After the women arrived on January 11, 1979, Bianchi strangled them to death.
    — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of strangle
Verb
  • People may suppress their personality, emotions, or opinions to fit workplace expectations.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • As the left and right argue, the disproportionate influence of a select few suppresses the will of the majority.
    — Susan Ostermann, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of suppress
Verb
  • Educational lectures at the aquarium and the sounds of traffic on the street both came through clearly, not remotely muffled.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 30 July 2026
  • Plus, darker tones help muffle visual clutter, creating a calming mood that feels loads richer than your budget might suggest.
    — Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 8 July 2026
Definition of muffle
Verb
  • Today, however, several armed groups allied with Tehran are back to pressuring Iran’s foes by opening new fronts that complicate the war and threaten to choke the global economy.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The important thing to know is that these techniques should only be used if your pet is truly choking – not simply coughing or gagging – and your pet should still be seen by a veterinarian afterward, even if the object is removed.
    — Cathy M. Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of choke
Verb
  • Their father devoured his meal, slurping up soup with his right hand and swallowing bread spread with miso paste with his left.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The loss of these specialized cells causes weakness and then paralysis of all of the muscles of the body under our control — including muscles that allow for breathing, speaking, and swallowing.
    — Christopher Campos, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of swallow
Verb
  • An Enchirito is made with a warm flour tortilla filled with seasoned beef, refried beans and diced onions and is smothered in red sauce and melted shredded cheddar cheese.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Dirty Dom distracted Fenix, opening up the door for McDonagh, who smothered Fenix in the corner.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of smother
Verb
  • Catherine is taking her anger out on those who hurt her, while Nora and Alice are both attempting to repress all of their fury.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Hole’s first three albums—Pretty on the Inside, Live Through This, and Celebrity Skin—are being repressed in various vinyl styles for release on September 18.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026
Definition of repress
Verb
  • In the capital, Male, others are tackling the plastic waste suffocating streets, hangout spots and swimming areas.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Above a certain temperature, the system starts to work against itself; the furious beating of cilia uses up any oxygen the coral’s tissues can absorb, and then the polyps can suffocate in the less oxygenated water.
    — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of suffocate

Browse Nearby Words

stiffs
stifle
stifled
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Cite this Entry

“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifle. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of stifle for Spanish Speakers

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