as in suppressed
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1
as in strangled
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in swallowed
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
stifled a yawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in muffled
to deaden the sound of
he stifled a cough with his hand
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stifled
Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
While some dreams are realized, others are stifled or pushed aside altogether.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
In the past, such a storm would typically have churned up cold water from below the surface and stifled its own growth, according to Andy Hazelton, a hurricane modeler and associate scientist with the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
Governors in many states enjoy clemency power similar to that held by presidents, but aversion to political risk has stifled its use.
—Khalil Cumberbatch, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Moving guys on and off the field delayed Dowdle’s impact and stifled Hubbard’s opportunity for beat-by-beat momentum.
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2025
The Indians started to put together another seemingly productive drive until a fumble stifled the plans, and Lowell took over in Billerica territory.
—Erik Anderson, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
However, the Bills quarterback was stifled by a stern Falcons defense at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, throwing 15-of-26 for 180 yards with two touchdowns and two picks.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Europe has traditionally held one of the strongest tech regulation frameworks globally, which critics say has stifled innovation.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
Between hugs and stifled tears, players walked up to sift through them.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
While some dreams are realized, others are stifled or pushed aside altogether.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
In the past, such a storm would typically have churned up cold water from below the surface and stifled its own growth, according to Andy Hazelton, a hurricane modeler and associate scientist with the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
Governors in many states enjoy clemency power similar to that held by presidents, but aversion to political risk has stifled its use.
—Khalil Cumberbatch, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Moving guys on and off the field delayed Dowdle’s impact and stifled Hubbard’s opportunity for beat-by-beat momentum.
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2025
The Indians started to put together another seemingly productive drive until a fumble stifled the plans, and Lowell took over in Billerica territory.
—Erik Anderson, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
However, the Bills quarterback was stifled by a stern Falcons defense at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, throwing 15-of-26 for 180 yards with two touchdowns and two picks.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Europe has traditionally held one of the strongest tech regulation frameworks globally, which critics say has stifled innovation.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifled
Adjective
-
Too long submerged in suppressed grief, Zilpha now came up from its depth like any swimmer stroking toward light and sweet air.—
Annie Proulx,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
During the previous school year, the boy strangled and choked a teacher and pulled up a female classmate’s dress and touched her inappropriately on the school playground, the lawsuit claims.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Their conversation eventually turned violent, leading Packer to call the police after Sweeney had strangled Dunne to the point of unconsciousness.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Some disappeared from the city and were swallowed up in the Yeoman hinterland.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
And businesses that have so far swallowed the tariffs without raising prices may not be able to for much longer.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The boy buried his face in his hands, and the thick nest of hair shook as if in a wind, and the sobs, though muffled, grew louder.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Ignore that muffled screaming in the distance, that’s just the TV overlords punching air.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In Coldwater, Walking Dead star Lincoln returns to British screens as a repressed man who moves to a backwater Scottish village and strikes up a friendship with his next door neighbor Tommy (Ewen Bremner).—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Like Freud’s return of the repressed.—
Lucinda Rosenfeld,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
During the previous school year, the boy strangled and choked a teacher and pulled up a female classmate’s dress and touched her inappropriately on the school playground, the lawsuit claims.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
-
From long before dawn until well past dark, similar rafts choked the river, packed with as many as 20 migrants per raft.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Still, the overall response to the show was muted.—
Claire McNear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The stakes are muted for a thriller, and Congressman Stuart just drifts around and is never in much trouble.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Etouffees, stewy mixtures served over rice whose name is derived from the French word for smothered.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Smolen scrambled and threw a high pass into the end zone, where Thompson was smothered by three defenders.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stifled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifled. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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