1
as in to strangle
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 to suppress
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
stifled a yawn
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as in close
lacking fresh air
the lecture hall was stifling until we opened several windows
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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
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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 stifle
Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, opponents of book limitations argue that restrictions harm intellectual rigor, stifle curiosity and impose certain views on others who may not hold them.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Pitt State held Nebraska-Kearney to 154 total yards, including a stifling 48 yards on the Lopers’ 27 rushing attempts.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Verb
Still, scoring wasn’t entirely stifled in Shanghai.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, opponents of book limitations argue that restrictions harm intellectual rigor, stifle curiosity and impose certain views on others who may not hold them.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
The very table around which Pixar hoped to foster collaboration was stifling it.
—Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Pitt State held Nebraska-Kearney to 154 total yards, including a stifling 48 yards on the Lopers’ 27 rushing attempts.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifle
Adjective
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What to Know For Dedication Night, a family member or close friend will join each celebrity for their dedication dance.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
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The Andromeda Galaxy The Andromeda Galaxy lies almost directly overhead in the hours surrounding midnight on October nights, presenting a perfect opportunity to observe the Milky Way's closest neighbor without the atmospheric interference that comes from being close to the horizon.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For Perrie Edwards, the studio can be both a sanctuary and a suffocating cocoon.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
24 Sep. 2025
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Their pass rush is suffocating and multi-faceted — Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard alone might be dominant enough to make Minnesota a top-10 defense in spite of a less talented secondary.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This chipping away at self can happen slowly, over time, with each passing day spent resolving sibling squabbles, staying up late to help with homework, cooking family meals, cleaning, carpooling, changing diapers, and wiping stuffy noses.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
10 Oct. 2025
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Despite the irony of her preoccupation with designer labels designating her as the stuffy one in the Spice Girls, she was met with scorn by the fashion establishment.—
Scarlett Harris,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Week 5 was another breathless run.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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The headline is that Europe pulled off a stunning victory on foreign soil, a win that was at times breathtaking and breathless, exhilarating and excruciating in equal measure.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifle. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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