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

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

Clubs who have stifled investment into their women’s team regularly cite a challenge of sustainability or loss of revenue for doing so, most recently Southampton. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 24 July 2026

What’s less arguable is the quality of Kinnear’s performance, a fine study in comic understatement at first that modulates into a delicately limned portrait of pain barely stifled. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026

Defense prevailed in the final FIFA World Cup match in Dallas-Fort Worth, as Spain stifled rival France 2-0 in the semifinals Tuesday at AT&T Stadium. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026

Instead, they were held off the scoresheet as Spain’s defense stifled their explosive attack. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026

Bobby Child is stifled by having to work in his family’s banking business. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026