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
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Recent Examples of stifle
Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The first debut seasons are often rushed and nerves can stifle the best of them.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
The hospital was already overwhelmed, with patients with IV drips lying on the floor in the corridors in stifling heat.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Verb
And with creativity and innovation so discouraged, an employee who thrives with an entrepreneurial spirit might feel stifled or frustrated.
—Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The first debut seasons are often rushed and nerves can stifle the best of them.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
All the commotion around them was stifling.
—Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
The hospital was already overwhelmed, with patients with IV drips lying on the floor in the corridors in stifling heat.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifle
Adjective
-
Looking back at Charlotte’s recent FCS opponents, dating back to 2021, the 49ers haven’t won the turnover battle in any of the four matchups, resulting in uncomfortably close games and even a lopsided loss to William & Mary in 2022.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
As Vevo’s Senior Manager of Talent Booking, Cynthia Todd emphasized the close partnership and trust that goes into making opportunities like these special performances come together in Live From Vevo Studios.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The suffocating Benz pushed the lifelong asthmatic to the edge.—
Sam Bloch
August 8,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
-
And with the team operating under the suffocating grip of new CBA, every dollar must work overtime.—
Brian Sampson,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
The late Tom Wolfe, rubbing his hands with glee and spilling lemonade on his white suit, would be delighted that tradition has now taken its revenge on stuffy Bauhaus Europeanism, and maybe rightly so.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Armani, who had already introduced unstructured jackets for men and women, was part of the generation of designers who ushered in a less formal fashion era, one that would allow men and women to look refined without looking stuffy.—
Belinda Luscombe,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The first few minutes of the film are a breathless, almost wordless introduction to the Otherlands, with Scarlet trapped under rotting hands clamoring to keep her there.—
Adam Solomons,
IndieWire,
4 Sep. 2025
-
There have been no breathless interviews about wedding plans or a tour hiatus.—
Gemma Allen,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifle. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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