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
Expanding your team, shouldering more projects, and growing your office space may seem like natural progressions for a successful studio—but AD100 designer Miles Redd believes that accruing too much overhead can actually be stifling.
—
Ad Pro, Architectural Digest, 17 Feb. 2026
In response to the online backlash against the festival, Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle put out a statement pushing back on the claims that Berlin was stifling free speech.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
The goals of both DHS and the FCC in these cases are to intimidate critics and stifle dissent.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
This innate expansiveness often makes for an optimistic demeanor, but that same energy can feel jittery if stifled.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Ad Pro, Architectural Digest, 17 Feb. 2026
In response to the online backlash against the festival, Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle put out a statement pushing back on the claims that Berlin was stifling free speech.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
The goals of both DHS and the FCC in these cases are to intimidate critics and stifle dissent.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
This innate expansiveness often makes for an optimistic demeanor, but that same energy can feel jittery if stifled.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifle
Verb
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Reuters reported that the medals featured a safety clip, intended to snap off when pulled forcefully to prevent the ribbon from strangling.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
12 Feb. 2026
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The Federal Reserve is handcuffed, unable to cut rates without reigniting inflation, yet unable to hold them without strangling growth.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In August 2025, a judge concluded that Vedam had not been given a fair trial due to prosecutors’ efforts to suppress evidence.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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But dismissing or minimizing disappointment can unintentionally teach children to ignore or suppress emotions.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Parents,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The weight loss drugs seem to muffle cravings for substances like tobacco and alcohol as well as food.—
Sarah Todd,
STAT,
6 Feb. 2026
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In addition, six interchanges were reconfigured and 7 miles of noise-muffling walls were installed.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Algae blooms choke our waterways.—
Yoca Arditi-Rocha,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
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Their inclusion on the recent flight comes as the United States chokes the nation’s oil supplies in a bid for negotiations that could end up in regime change, sparking questions about whether Cuba will take more deportations to ease the political and economic pressure.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Russia wants to swallow Ukraine, even though both nations share Orthodox rites.—
Josef Joffe,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
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These are cheap to produce and easy to swallow due to their smooth texture.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The bun was buttery and slightly sweet, the pickles and mustard lended a bit of tang to the unctuous beef patties smothered in melty American cheese, and the sweet-but-slightly-spicy Sassy Sauce brought it all together without overpowering any other flavors.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
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The heady sensuality of Aїnouz’s best films (Invisible Life, Madame Satã) is somewhat smothered by the cold cerebral mischief of Filippou’s writing.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Two Minneapolis residents were shot to death by federal agents last month in an attempt to repress anti-immigration protests.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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The portrait of a woman who represses and conceals a rape struck a chord as the #MeToo movement took off and put Trobisch on the map.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When succulents are overwatered, their roots suffocate and die, which usually causes the leaves to turn soft and drop off the plant.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
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At its best, Tudor’s out-of-possession approach is suffocating, a full-blooded style that excites fans and sets adrenaline pumping through the team.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifle. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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