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

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

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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 While some economists express pessimism about future growth due to diminishing returns, Nobel laureates like Joel Mokyr and Philippe Aghion remain optimistic, arguing new technologies like AI enable exponential progress if innovation isn't stifled. — Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Unfortunately for them, passersby appeared to be much more concerned about the stifling 100-degree heat dome that settled over the city with particular ferocity. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026 Party leaders, Wangchuk’s wife and supporters accuse authorities of ‘abducting’ him to stifle a growing protest movement, as police flood main protest with barricades and paramilitary forces. — Aijaz Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026 Landscape fabric acts as a barrier that stifles this living, dynamic process. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 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
  • Both concluded that Leslie had been hit over the head and strangled.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
  • Prosecutors allege that Lindsay 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.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of strangle
Verb
  • Jokes about Modi were rare during earlier protests, when his government was criticized for suppressing dissent.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • The idea is to enable riders to accelerate earlier and utilize more of the motorcycle’s capabilities when traction gets erratic rather than just suppressing wheelspin.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 July 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
  • There are dozens more fires burning across the state, choking the air in Oregon and sending smoke across the country.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • As if all this isn’t enough to choke your brain, here is where the numbers get truly impressive.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
Definition of choke
Verb
  • If there is swelling spreading well beyond the bite, a rash breaking out elsewhere on your body, or any trouble breathing or swallowing, treat that as an emergency and get medical help right away.
    — Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 29 July 2026
  • And that’s probably too much for most individuals, and the political system, to swallow.
    — Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of swallow
Verb
  • Rodri, Spain’s captain and the anchor of the team’s smothering defense during its unbeaten World Cup run, won the Golden Ball award as the outstanding player of the tournament.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • Exemplary off-ball discipline and application go a long way to explaining the pattern of this game, but the extent to which Argentina were smothered in their seventh World Cup final was a huge surprise.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of smother
Verb
  • 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
  • When elites are strong, dictators need to accommodate them, often by repressing outsiders to shield insiders from potential challenges.
    — José Kaire, The Conversation, 17 July 2026
Definition of repress
Verb
  • The Delta breeze may save Sacramento from 100 degrees on Friday, but given the heat dome’s positioning nearly directly overhead this weekend, that Delta breeze will be snuffed out under the suffocating high pressure.
    — Sean Macaday July 27, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026
  • New York has had excellent stretches, such as the team’s undefeated Commissioner’s Cup run, when their offense moves from side to side, their shotmaking reaches elite levels and their length is suffocating on defense.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 21 July 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 2 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of stifle for Spanish Speakers

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