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
Francesca Cassidy, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
From there, the house unfolds via a traditional footprint that somehow feels soft and inviting instead of stifling.
—Miriam Schwartz, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
But doing the same rituals day in and day out can start to feel stale, even stifling.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 27 Mar. 2026
The time was very much right to make a debut album, but the pressure to do so also was stifling.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
Camp at the trailhead and start early to beat the stifling desert heat, and be rewarded with shafts of ethereal light dancing on the cliffs.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
But his latest effort, the BASED Act — aimed at stopping trillion-dollar tech monopolies from stifling smaller competitors — has some tech players like YC’s Garry Tan backing him.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Pushing the pace on offense and stifling the Sharks with defense, Arizona went up by double digits in the opening minutes and led the Sharks by 27 in the first half while delighting the thousands of fans who filled Viejas Arena with red.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Oettinger, who was Team USA’s backup goalie in their run to the gold medal last month, ranged from steady to spectacular in stifling the Wild.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
There are those, however, who do not see regulation as a stifling force.
—Francesca Cassidy, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
From there, the house unfolds via a traditional footprint that somehow feels soft and inviting instead of stifling.
—Miriam Schwartz, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
But doing the same rituals day in and day out can start to feel stale, even stifling.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 27 Mar. 2026
The time was very much right to make a debut album, but the pressure to do so also was stifling.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
Camp at the trailhead and start early to beat the stifling desert heat, and be rewarded with shafts of ethereal light dancing on the cliffs.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
But his latest effort, the BASED Act — aimed at stopping trillion-dollar tech monopolies from stifling smaller competitors — has some tech players like YC’s Garry Tan backing him.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Pushing the pace on offense and stifling the Sharks with defense, Arizona went up by double digits in the opening minutes and led the Sharks by 27 in the first half while delighting the thousands of fans who filled Viejas Arena with red.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Oettinger, who was Team USA’s backup goalie in their run to the gold medal last month, ranged from steady to spectacular in stifling the Wild.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifling
Adjective
-
Nevada County’s admission comes as AI programs are under close watch around the globe for introducing incorrect legal references in cases, yet also increasingly offered as tools to help lawyers and judges research and write their briefs, motions and opinions.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Catcher Danny Jansen hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to bust open a close game, and the Rangers held on for an 8-5 road win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In early January 2025, police were called to the Aliquippa VFW when Ours was accused of repeatedly punching and strangling another man, later identified as Preston Coleman.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Jorge Landeros, 56, was sentenced to 25 years in prison more than a decade after reportedly fatally beating and strangling a 52-year-old American University accounting professor in her Maryland home.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Once the expiry passes, the forces suppressing volatility will recede — leaving macroeconomics and geopolitics firmly back in control.—
Sidhartha Shukla,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
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The TriForce 40mm drivers deliver a dynamic listening experience with exceptional highs and deep lows, while the detachable HyperClear Cardioid mic ensures your voice is crystal clear by suppressing background noise.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, apartments with older doors, and homes with hardwood or tile floors, this $4 draft stopper can stop the chilly air from entering, while also muffling outside noises and blocking dust, pollen, and pests.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
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In addition, six interchanges were reconfigured and 7 miles of noise-muffling walls were installed.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Georgia will surely be ready and focused on its home floor following two consecutive losses, but Bucky Ball and its suffocating style from a fresh A&M team will be too much for the Bulldogs.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
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Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Darnold, Mike Macdonald and a suffocating defense have led the Seahawks to the big stage for the fourth time in franchise history.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The pair have been in physical altercations in the past, including Manning's 2012 arrest for allegedly punching, scratching, kicking and choking Hartman – whom media outlets have referred to as Manning's former make-up artist and assistant – and slamming her head against the floor and wall.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The man alerted jail deputies that his cellmate, 35-year-old Vincent Chacon, was choking and needed help in the early morning of June 30, according to a probable cause affidavit.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Speech-language pathologists work with people who have disorders involving speech, language and swallowing, sometimes from injuries, medical conditions or developmental delays.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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When a pet bites into the plant, those crystals embed in mouth tissue, which explains why oral irritation and swallowing difficulty are the primary symptoms.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In 2012, the couple opened Rich Table as a break from stuffier environs — a restaurant that put refinement on the plate instead of in the tablecloth, band tees welcome.—
Cesar Hernandez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
27 Mar. 2026
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The service The service style at 1 Hotel Tokyo is easygoing and never stuffy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stifling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifling. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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