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
Kristen Geil, Outside, 27 Jan. 2026
The Blue Devils got 10 points from Patrick Ngongba and used a stifling defense to limit Texas to 32% shooting and force 16 turnovers.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
And Rudy Gobert remains one of the league's most stifling rim protectors.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
In New York, a broader proposal to ban masks on the subway drew criticism about stifling protests.
—Idaho Statesman, 16 Jan. 2026
Then, on the other end, the Longhorns' stifling defense often caused turnovers, forcing the Gamecocks to look for their third or fourth option on the floor.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 16 Jan. 2026
Moore’s task against Indiana’s stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
The immense costs associated with the program have only worsened the economic situation, leading to a more stifling environment.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
Moore's task against Indiana's stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Arc’teryx base layers hit the trifecta—we’re partial to the Rho line, which use the brand’s Torrent stretch fleece for light (never stifling) warmth and plenty of stretch.
—Kristen Geil, Outside, 27 Jan. 2026
The Blue Devils got 10 points from Patrick Ngongba and used a stifling defense to limit Texas to 32% shooting and force 16 turnovers.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
And Rudy Gobert remains one of the league's most stifling rim protectors.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
In New York, a broader proposal to ban masks on the subway drew criticism about stifling protests.
—Idaho Statesman, 16 Jan. 2026
Then, on the other end, the Longhorns' stifling defense often caused turnovers, forcing the Gamecocks to look for their third or fourth option on the floor.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 16 Jan. 2026
Moore’s task against Indiana’s stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
The immense costs associated with the program have only worsened the economic situation, leading to a more stifling environment.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
Moore's task against Indiana's stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifling
Adjective
-
In recent years, Rivkin has formed a close bond with Olga Smirnova, a clinical social worker who visits him weekly through a home-visit program run by Maimonides Medical Center.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Mémoires Colorées was born out of Patrick Frey’s (who currently helms Pierre Frey) close friendship with Belgian artist and paper sculptor Isabelle de Borchgrave.—
Stephanie Sporn,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At his hearing Tuesday, Adams admitted strangling Murray himself.—
William Morris,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
-
His criminal history included convictions for robbery, kidnapping and attempting to kill a corrections officer by strangling him.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The nerves that Landfair had been suppressing only show as the interview winds down, letting out a relieved and shaky breath after answering the last question.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Outside the cell, the ATP is converted into adenosine, which acts on neurons — in this case, by exciting neurons that inhibit swimming and suppressing swim neurons.—
Ingrid Wickelgren,
Quanta Magazine,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Kubiak found that easy to navigate with a conservative game plan in the season finale at the 49ers with a rushing attack that had 39 attempts for 180 yards while the Seahawks’ defense was muffling the opposition.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The active noise cancellation actually blocks sounds, instead of offering that fake muffling nonsense.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
22 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
After the 49ers’ explosive offense was dominated by Seattle in Week 18, what buttons can coach Kyle Shanahan press to create some offense against a suffocating Seahawks defense?—
Ted Nguyen,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Those laughs are balanced with real world issues, and a longing for these gentlewomen locked into the suffocating zeitgeist of early 1800s British Regency.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Sure, some out there were robbing old people, choking people, robbing them, beating them up, taking their money, but Troy just wasn’t like that.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
His criminal history included convictions for robbery, kidnapping and attempting to kill a corrections officer by choking him.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
People talk about referees swallowing their whistles in the closing seconds of a one-point game.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
-
His belittling boasts about swallowing Canada helped drive our nicest neighbor into the arms of China.—
Maureen Dowd,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The antithesis of a stuffy, traditional dining room, the relaxed dining area is perfect for casual meals or cooking sessions with parents and kids.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Owner Kevin Timmons — who also owns local chain Nick & Jake’s — wants the space to be a go-to date-night spot, without all the marble and brass of stuffier options.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stifling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifling. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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