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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to suppress
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
stifled a yawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in close
lacking fresh air
the lecture hall was stifling until we opened several windows
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stifle
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
While personal fans have been a fashionable accessory since before the Victorian era, the category has been stifled by a lack of innovation for a while.
—Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2026
Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Seller fees are part of the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, filed in September 2023 and scheduled for trial in 2027, which accuses the company of using anticompetitive tactics to maintain its e-commerce dominance, as well as stifling merchants on its marketplace.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Verb
The defense is historically stifling.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
While personal fans have been a fashionable accessory since before the Victorian era, the category has been stifled by a lack of innovation for a while.
—Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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
The bill, which passed with another similar piece of legislation aimed at limiting protests around houses of worship, has drawn concerns about stifling free speech rights, especially for pro-Palestine protests.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Seller fees are part of the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, filed in September 2023 and scheduled for trial in 2027, which accuses the company of using anticompetitive tactics to maintain its e-commerce dominance, as well as stifling merchants on its marketplace.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifle
Adjective
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Because the Celtics, provided they close-out the 76ers, have the kind of shooters the Hawks don’t.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Qatar could deepen its already close defense ties to Turkey, and China, which is close to Iran, could play a greater diplomatic role.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 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
Adjective
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The lightweight jersey keeps you cool in stuffy cabins and crowded trains, while built‑in stretch maintains a smooth shape after hours of wear.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Apr. 2026
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The collared button-down paired with matching shorts strikes the right balance between polished and relaxed, without feeling stuffy.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But she was met in the airlock by Tim Robbins' Bernard in a fiery cliffhanger climax that left us all totally breathless.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Yours in breathless, ticketless solidarity.—
Yehiel Kyle Israel,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifle. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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