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

Shipping has been stifled in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil supply flowed prior to the war. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Hiring has been stifled in part by high uncertainty, high interest rates, high inflation and volatile policy shifts and geopolitical developments. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

This debate has been fiercely stifled by current politicians, including Sanae Takaichi—who is, ironically, the first female prime minister in Japanese history. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026

Youri Tielemans and Santos, United’s new midfield partnership, were hooked on 67 minutes, showing the extent to which Hull had stifled them. — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Washington also seemed to open up the playbook, with downfield passing concepts that confused Miami defensive backs and pressure packages that stifled the Dolphins offensive line. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Raman asserted that there have been only three Inside Safe operations in her district and that her committee has been stifled by inaction from the mayor. — Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026

In the late 1800s however, the Chinese Exclusion Act stifled the thriving community, and other immigrant communities began to make their mark on Gilroy. — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 31 July 2026

Corporate employees often have income growth that can be stifled or even capped. — Seth Lederman, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026