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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stifle
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
In the early afternoon, a roar ripped through the stifling Mississippi heat, as dozens of motorcycles leading the funeral procession rumbled into the church parking lot.
—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
28 June 2026
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
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
26 June 2026
Waves of terrorist attacks, clashes between farmers and herders, as well as kidnappings for ransom have bedeviled Nigerian citizens in recent years, stifling economic growth and productivity in many parts of the country.
—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Verb
Likewise, inventories of unsold wine have stifled any sense of buying urgency.
—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
In the early afternoon, a roar ripped through the stifling Mississippi heat, as dozens of motorcycles leading the funeral procession rumbled into the church parking lot.
—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
28 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
The governor has raised concerns that the tax would drive the state’s wealthiest residents out of California, doing long-term damage to the state’s tax base and stifling innovation.
—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
26 June 2026
Waves of terrorist attacks, clashes between farmers and herders, as well as kidnappings for ransom have bedeviled Nigerian citizens in recent years, stifling economic growth and productivity in many parts of the country.
—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifle
Verb
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The empress returns to her chambers to weep, only to be strangled by a eunuch under the noble consort’s orders.
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The warning is the second issued by UCSB police since May, when an 18-year-old freshman reported she was raped and strangled after meeting a man at a Sigma Pi fraternity party before returning to her dorm at Tropicana Gardens in Isla Vista.
Verb
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Record-setting heat is suspected in 25 deaths from the Deep South to the Midwest to the East Coast, authorities said, with the temperature highs also suppressing some Fourth of July celebrations.
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When coated onto a polypropylene separator with graphene, the material formed a thin interfacial layer that readily absorbed electrolyte while suppressing polysulfide migration.
Verb
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As a further precaution, consider adding background noise, like the TV or a white noise machine, to help muffle the sounds.
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Missing crucial orders because a voice is muffled, or struggling to pull out an emergency fire shelter because a mask is in the way, could be the difference between life and death.
Verb
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This practice carries risks, such as choking and aspiration, or food entering the airway.
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Historically, modest fires every seven to 20 years kept forests from being overgrown and choked with highly flammable dead wood and brush, Williams said.
Verb
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The product, used to manage swallowing difficulties, might cause NEC, the FDA said.
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Selling now and realizing a 40% loss is a difficult pill to swallow.
Verb
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Raquel got the early advantage and smothered Maxxine in the corner.
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Whether they’re smothered in pepper jelly, doused in barbecue sauce, or wrapped in bacon, appetizers are your chance to set the tone and impress your guests (because, let’s face it, nothing beats the satisfaction of compliments on your spread).
Verb
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Typically, ghosts show up in literature when something that has been repressed escapes and becomes everyone’s problem.
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In his car, Lestat is no longer able to repress his memories after having opened the floodgates.
Verb
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The pure, post-Bee Gees charisma Bellamy mustered in the 2000s seems to have vacated him entirely, and the song’s funkiness suffocates under the flatness of his delivery.
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Planting the root flare too deep can suffocate the roots, causing disease.
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifle. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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