as in close
lacking fresh air
the lecture hall was stifling until we opened several windows
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in strangling
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 suppressing
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
stifled a yawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in muffling
to deaden the sound of
he stifled a cough with his hand
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stifling
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Her mother, who had a staid upbringing in California, came to New York in the early sixties looking for someplace more diverse and less stifling.
—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
There are so many etiquette rules stifling the truth.
—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
Lynn told me that Colson shared his father’s moodiness, if not his stifling conservatism.
—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
In photos captured during the event, George—who will be following in his dad’s footsteps at Eaton College in the fall—was spotted stifling a sneeze on the balcony, earning a sweet reaction from his mom.
—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
17 June 2026
On the flip side, boosting Fox content while stifling everything else could be bad for overall engagement in the long run.
—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
The favourites for the tournament include Spain, France, Argentina and, yes, England; but much will depend on how well squads adapt to the stifling heat, games at high altitude, and having to play across four different time zones.
—
The Week Uk,
TheWeek,
13 June 2026
The knockout stage is where the stakes get higher and the pressure becomes stifling.
—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
Op-eds have painted the president’s reverence for traditional design as mere nostalgia that will lead, inevitably, to pastiche and derivative mimicry while stifling innovation.
—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Adjective
For all the deserved talk about the Knicks’ dynamic offense, the defense has been far more stifling than their reputation suggests.
—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Her mother, who had a staid upbringing in California, came to New York in the early sixties looking for someplace more diverse and less stifling.
—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Candor, without the balance of Humility, Temperance, and Collaboration, risks hardening into rigidity, creating blind spots and stifling relationships.
—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
There are so many etiquette rules stifling the truth.
—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
Lynn told me that Colson shared his father’s moodiness, if not his stifling conservatism.
—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
In photos captured during the event, George—who will be following in his dad’s footsteps at Eaton College in the fall—was spotted stifling a sneeze on the balcony, earning a sweet reaction from his mom.
—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
17 June 2026
On the flip side, boosting Fox content while stifling everything else could be bad for overall engagement in the long run.
—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
The favourites for the tournament include Spain, France, Argentina and, yes, England; but much will depend on how well squads adapt to the stifling heat, games at high altitude, and having to play across four different time zones.
—
The Week Uk,
TheWeek,
13 June 2026
The knockout stage is where the stakes get higher and the pressure becomes stifling.
—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
Op-eds have painted the president’s reverence for traditional design as mere nostalgia that will lead, inevitably, to pastiche and derivative mimicry while stifling innovation.
—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifling
Adjective
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With the wrap in front of you, fold up the edge closest to you.
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Because wells in the region are large and close to one another, restarting production will require significant coordination across companies and countries to ensure consistent pressure across multiple wells.
Verb
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Heuermann admitted in April to strangling all of his victims over a 17-year span beginning in 1993.
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Heuermann, 62, admitted in April to strangling eight women and leaving their remains in remote areas of Long Island between 1993 and 2010, which have been dubbed the Gilgo Beach killings.
Verb
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Increase Your Protein Intake Protein increases satiety hormones while suppressing hunger hormones.
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Firms also comply with privacy frameworks such as the GDPR and the CCPA when working across jurisdictions and refuse engagements that would require suppressing truthful, lawful reporting.
Verb
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The sound-muffling fabrics, carpets, ceiling tiles, tablecloths and rugs that used to decorate restaurants are deemed too stuffy these days, and even upholstered booths are being replaced by more barebones tables — and lots of them, close together.
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Their flexible design fits snugly into ears, muffling plane engine sounds and loud conversations.
Adjective
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The Valkyries won their third straight game, defeating the Sparks 78-58 behind a suffocating defensive performance.
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The Fleet played a suffocating style of hockey, with a strong forecheck and the ability to wear down opponents with relentless offensive-zone pressure.
Verb
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According to the criminal complaint, the boy told police Diggs began choking him before dragging him into the nearby alley.
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Officer Nicholas Samartino of the Woodbridge Police Department responded to a report that a 5-day-old infant was choking and experiencing difficulty breathing back in May, according to police.
Verb
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Patients may initially experience jaw stiffness, neck pain, back pain or difficulty swallowing.
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An alligator at the Sacramento Zoo is recovering after swallowing – and later regurgitating – a plush toy that fell into its habitat.
Adjective
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But Obama's center projects a younger, hipper, less stuffy vibe than its general ilk.
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Ornate Pieces While traditional design will always have a place, certain decorative details now feel a bit stuffy.
Cite this Entry
“Stifling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifling. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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