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
Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Like the face-to-face collaboration benefits lost at GISS, employees fear shutting down Goddard's cafeteria will be stifling.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Suárez could be awfully effective in San Francisco with the marine layer stifling deep fly balls on chilly nights by the bay.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The objection was to stay compact in central areas, as well as stifling any passes into Gravenberch, who is crucial to Liverpool’s early build-up.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Cocoa and coffee prices, which have been pushed higher by climate change stifling supply, now face further pressures from tariffs.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The air was clammy and stifling.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
There was one stifling stretch — during the thick of summer, for instance — when Charlotte had to play eight of 10 MLS regular-season matches on the road.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
The Dodgers proved as much with a stifling performance to shut down the Milwaukee Brewers in a four-game sweep in the National League Championship Series.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
The space was stifling in the Louisiana heat, so fans were blowing for everyone inside.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Like the face-to-face collaboration benefits lost at GISS, employees fear shutting down Goddard's cafeteria will be stifling.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Suárez could be awfully effective in San Francisco with the marine layer stifling deep fly balls on chilly nights by the bay.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The objection was to stay compact in central areas, as well as stifling any passes into Gravenberch, who is crucial to Liverpool’s early build-up.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Cocoa and coffee prices, which have been pushed higher by climate change stifling supply, now face further pressures from tariffs.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The air was clammy and stifling.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
There was one stifling stretch — during the thick of summer, for instance — when Charlotte had to play eight of 10 MLS regular-season matches on the road.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
The Dodgers proved as much with a stifling performance to shut down the Milwaukee Brewers in a four-game sweep in the National League Championship Series.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifling
Adjective
-
Trump levied his greatest assault against the international economic order, announcing the most expansive set of tariffs in American history on both autocratic adversaries and America’s closest democratic allies in April 2025 (Russia was strikingly excluded).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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Trump, however, made inroads with New Jersey voters in November 2024, making for a surprisingly close race.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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When Josh got home five minutes later, Martin met him at the door with a knife and chased him upstairs, stabbing him and then strangling him with a belt or a rope, Evans said.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
China, in turn, imposed new strangling restrictions on the export of seven rare earth minerals.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The White House’s efforts to centralize federal grantmaking, restrict free speech, erase public data and expand surveillance mirror China’s successful playbook for building scientific capacity while suppressing dissent.—
Kenneth M. Evans,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
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The basic idea is that oxidative stress is a signal that tells your body to adapt and get stronger, so suppressing that signal by taking antioxidants results in less training adaptation.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Money floods into affected districts, muffling outrage precisely when constituents are most enraged.—
John J. Donohue,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The music, which ranges from Motown to '80s alternative, enlivens the room without muffling conversations.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Doors and windows were locked, producing a suffocating effect in the hot weather.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
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For Perrie Edwards, the studio can be both a sanctuary and a suffocating cocoon.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The suspect, Mario Camacho, 27, was reportedly armed with a knife and choking his younger brother.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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For younger children, this is a matter of safety, since toys intended for older kids can contain small parts that pose choking hazards or materials that aren’t safe to chew.—
Anja Webb,
Parents,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When To Seek Medical Care Things like fizzy drinks, overeating, or swallowing air can cause bloating.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Signs of botulism include difficulty swallowing or breathing, slurred speech and muscle weakness.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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When the air turns crisp in fall and winter, the dryness indoors can sneak up on you — and so can flaky skin, a scratchy throat, and stuffy sinuses (not to mention allergens).—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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In hopes of bolstering George’s chances and briefly escaping the stuffy confines of married life, Hedda decides to throw a shindig announcing the couple’s return from their honeymoon.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stifling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifling. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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