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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in suppressing
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
stifled a yawn
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in muffling
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 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
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
The issues stifling any boost in consumer comfort with AVs are clear, according to the study.
—Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Some polyester pants are known to trap warmth and become stifling, but these come in a special thin version for summer.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
How to analyze a poetics of irreverence and improvisation—of life experienced in a perpetual present—without stifling precisely these qualities?
—Joe Dunthorne, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026
Players from the top European teams, like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, had already played sixty matches during their regular seasons, before taking to pitches in heat-dome temperatures of ninety-seven degrees and stifling humidity.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 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
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
The issues stifling any boost in consumer comfort with AVs are clear, according to the study.
—Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Some polyester pants are known to trap warmth and become stifling, but these come in a special thin version for summer.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
How to analyze a poetics of irreverence and improvisation—of life experienced in a perpetual present—without stifling precisely these qualities?
—Joe Dunthorne, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026
Players from the top European teams, like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, had already played sixty matches during their regular seasons, before taking to pitches in heat-dome temperatures of ninety-seven degrees and stifling humidity.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifling
Adjective
-
There wasn’t much excitement in the building, despite the fact that the game was close until the end.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Roberts will keep a close eye on Ohtani, who left the game last Thursday with a swollen knee and then sat out Friday.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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In 2020, Bryan was arrested allegedly strangling his then-girlfriend at an Oregon home.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
2 Dec. 2025
-
The same day, Philadelphia police arrested him on charges including strangling, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
19 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The older upper-room technology has been around since the 1930s and was effective at suppressing even measles transmission in classrooms.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025
-
But President Patrice Talon has faced accusations of suppressing criticism.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
8 Dec. 2025
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.—
Allyson Reedy,
Denver Post,
13 May 2026
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Acidification reduces the pH of seawater, which also diminishes sound absorption, so the stain of ship’s engine noise spreads further, muffling the songs of humpbacks and the codas of sperm whales.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Despite his team not needing to throw the football much thanks to a suffocating defensive performance (Trevor Lawrence attempted just 22 passes in Jacksonville's 35-6 win over the Chargers), Meyers still received six targets and produced five catches for 64 yards.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Nov. 2025
-
Doors and windows were locked, producing a suffocating effect in the hot weather.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Those sharp fragments can cause choking, become lodged in the digestive tract, or even puncture the stomach or intestines.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
15 June 2026
-
Police investigation after choking death Police opened their investigation due to the unusual nature of Medina's death.—
Tony Aiello,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Brandsema explained that humans are born with one pool of motor neurons for life, and SMA slowly robs individuals of their motor neurons over time, leaving them with difficulty walking or running, holding up their heads, or even swallowing food and liquid safely.—
Ciara McCarthy
June 15,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
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Parents should quickly seek medical care for an infant who has difficulty swallowing, poor feeding, loss of head control or decreased facial expression, the CDC said.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Antique and vintage dealers may bring to mind dusty relics and their equally stuffy proprietors—and in some cases, this caricature is correct.—
Elizabeth Kiefer,
Architectural Digest,
11 Dec. 2025
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Sorel Brex Faux Shearling Lace-up Boots Tired of stuffy traditional winter boots?—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stifling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifling. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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