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
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
American Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
She feels stifled when she can’t be trusted to do things on her own.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Maye was stifled when the pocket collapsed.
—Prince J. Grimes, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Pipeline sabotage has also stifled government revenues.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks, who stifled the New England Patriots in a 29-13 Super Bowl win last night.
—Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Without these oversight measures, the public’s ability to give its input was stifled, the lawsuit alleges.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
Arsenal have recently looked stifled in a way that the creative department of a title-challenging team, high on its own output, should not.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Minnesota got power play goals from Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek and a shorthanded goal from Matt Boldy, but was stifled defensively much of the night, most notably at even strength.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
While unfolding the investigation, Guiraudie also finds the town seething with stifled lust that’s ready to burst out volcanically—and that’s inseparable from the natural mystery and wonder of country life.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
Verb
Impressive defense from Vanderbilt stifled A&M's shooters and forced 11 Aggie turnovers.
—American Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
She feels stifled when she can’t be trusted to do things on her own.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Maye was stifled when the pocket collapsed.
—Prince J. Grimes, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Pipeline sabotage has also stifled government revenues.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks, who stifled the New England Patriots in a 29-13 Super Bowl win last night.
—Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Without these oversight measures, the public’s ability to give its input was stifled, the lawsuit alleges.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
Arsenal have recently looked stifled in a way that the creative department of a title-challenging team, high on its own output, should not.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Minnesota got power play goals from Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek and a shorthanded goal from Matt Boldy, but was stifled defensively much of the night, most notably at even strength.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifled
Adjective
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Supervising sound editor Alastair Sirkett told IndieWire that Peter Claffey’s big, former-rugby-player frame really helps that moment sing with suppressed panic.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Letting muscles weaken suppressed genes involved in mitochondrial function and energy production in particular, including genes that are essential for muscle endurance and recovery.—
Bonnie Tsui,
The Atlantic,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Getty Images Since the June strikes, Iran’s rulers have been weakened by street protests, suppressed at a cost of thousands of lives, against a cost-of-living crisis driven in part by international sanctions that have strangled the country’s oil income.—
Max Burman,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Hanlon was out hiking when Hall assaulted and strangled her to death.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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An autopsy showed the baby inhaled and swallowed the sanitation liquid used in the portable toilet, according to investigators.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Many potassium supplements should be swallowed whole.—
Karen Berger,
Verywell Health,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Highway traffic may have muffled the sound of gunshots.—
Graham Womack
Updated January 15,
Sacbee.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Using context-aware algorithms, this technology can, for example, be used to help distinguish between speech and noise, predict and suppress unwanted clamor in real time, and attempt to clean up speech that is muffled or distorted.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Bigger film roles quickly followed, including that of the repressed, by-the-book Maj.—
Christopher Watson,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Walters and her lawyers had argued that repressed memories delayed the filing.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Israeli settler violence and settlement expansion has grown, and daily Palestinian life has been choked by movement restrictions and military raids.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Three years after the incident involving Cordell, a prisoner claimed he was assaulted, choked and Tazed by Hadder while on day release for a family reunion at a Waffle House.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There is a heightened intensity to her songs, even at their most muted—a simmering cauldron of woe in near-constant threat of bubbling over.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Soft, muted pink adds subtle warmth and works across styles.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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When monitoring wanes and enforcement fades, workers pay the price first in wages and safety, then in silenced voices and must choose between an empty stomach and their rights.—
Tharo Khun,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stifled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifled. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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