Synonyms of stifled

stifled 1 of 2

adjective

as in suppressed

Related Words

• suppressed
• repressed
• silenced
• hidden
• closeted
• concealed
• personal
• surreptitious
• offstage
• offscreen
• backstage
• furtive
• restricted
• sneak
• clandestine
• conspiratorial
• underground
• collusive
• sneaky
• stealthy
• closet
• undisclosed
• underhanded
• undercover
• unsaid
• untold
• covert
• unmentioned
• silent
• classified
• underhand
• top secret
• sneaking
• unadvertised
• unannounced
• confidential
• occult
• inside
• hugger-mugger
• private
• intimate
• nonpublic
• esoteric
• hushed
• privy
• behind-the-scenes
• secret
• hush-hush

Dissimilar Words

• open
• public
• common
• proclaimed
• professed
• declared
• broadcast
• publicized
• aired
• reported
• announced
• prevailing
• general
• heralded
• blazed
• advertised
• published
• widespread
• vulgar
• prevalent
• disclosed
• popular
• current
• rife
• promulgated
• enunciated
• well-known
• spotlighted
• shared
• communal
• divulged

stifled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of stifle

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

• strangled
• choked
• smothered
• suffocated
• drowned
• destroyed
• throttled
• asphyxiated
• garroted
• dispatched
• felled
• slew
• croaked
• did in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inspired
• breathed
• expired
• inhaled
• exhaled
• revived
• resuscitated

2

as in swallowed

to refrain from openly showing or uttering

stifled a yawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suppressed
• swallowed
• repressed
• controlled
• managed
• smothered
• strangled
• contained
• submerged
• choked (back)
• held back
• sank
• pocketed
• governed
• curbed
• quashed
• checked
• quelled
• muffled
• bridled
• squelched
• bottled up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expressed
• released
• took out
• unleashed
• vented
• loosed

3

as in muffled

to deaden the sound of

he stifled a cough with his hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• muffled
• muted
• insulated
• softened
• padded
• subdued
• mellowed
• baffled
• dampened
• soundproofed
• toned (down)
• smothered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increased
• enhanced
• deepened
• heightened
• strengthened
• unmuffled
• amplified
• magnified
• boosted
• stepped up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stifled

Adjective

Literature, in his view, was a susurrus of stifled screams, a missive from the netherworld of the collective imaginary. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Verb

Nationwide, Muslim and pro-Palestinian students argued that their speech had been stifled. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026

The most promising part for the Panthers is that Bryce Young, who leads the NFL in passing yardage, was in no way stifled Sunday. — Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026

Home buying, a traditional trigger for adding a dog to the family, has been stifled by a combination of elevated real estate prices, sluggish real wage growth and higher mortgage rates. — Robert Granader, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2026

While Odebunmi was producing for Cleveland, the Cavaliers largely stifled Birmingham’s top offensive threat, wide receiver Paul Turner. — Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

The Falcons dominated the second half with their offense, and the defense stifled the Packers and quarterback Jordan Love. — Rod Beard, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026

But the cumbersome requirements for taking the drugs, as well as a series of safety concerns, stifled their use. — Allison Deangelis, STAT, 23 Sep. 2026

Perhaps that’s why the book was successfully stifled not only in Fort Worth but across the country, Williams said. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026

The developments further strain Saudi Arabia's effort to get its oil to market while avoiding the Strait of Hormuz, the choke point at the mouth of the Persian Gulf where Iranian attacks have stifled shipping. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026