1
as in to strangle
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
the law requires the owner of a discarded refrigerator to remove its door so that a child won't get trapped inside and suffocate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suffocate
Among other damage, the oil can essentially suffocate mangrove trees, interfere with hawksbill turtles’ and green sea turtles’ sense of smell that guides their navigation, and prevent fish from reproducing.
—
Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
The cleavage is overwhelming for her, the waist is completely suffocating, and the corset and the dress is heavy.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Brunson scored the points; Mikal Bridges was a rejuvenated terror; Josh Hart was everywhere; OG Anunoby suffocated the 76ers on defense.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
Also scarred is Ian Sampson, a 27-year-old amateur photographer, who chipped a tooth and nearly suffocated before inhaling tear gas after a federal agent pinned him down in the same way that the Instagram post seemingly glorified.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
The cleavage is overwhelming for her, the waist is completely suffocating, and the corset and the dress is heavy.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Brunson scored the points; Mikal Bridges was a rejuvenated terror; Josh Hart was everywhere; OG Anunoby suffocated the 76ers on defense.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
Also scarred is Ian Sampson, a 27-year-old amateur photographer, who chipped a tooth and nearly suffocated before inhaling tear gas after a federal agent pinned him down in the same way that the Instagram post seemingly glorified.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocate
Verb
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Just as with Weaver, Vesey was bound with electrical cords before she was raped and strangled, the papers state.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
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Luis Benitez-Gonzalez, a 26-year-old previously deported Mexican national, is accused of strangling two women in the area of Austin, Texas, in 2018 and 2024.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The Strait of Hormuz remains choked.—
Jason Kirsch,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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The woman said she was beaten and choked for hours.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Hellerer was an executive at Google and began feeling miserable in her corporate life, having panic attacks and vomiting in the bathroom.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
22 May 2026
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Clarke recalled crawling to the bathroom and vomiting from the pain before realizing something was seriously wrong.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The Detroit fans who stuck around until the end of the game were drowned out by the bus loads of Cavaliers fans.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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However, the actor does most of the heavy lifting, even as Nemes’ aesthetic approach drowns the frame in striking shadows — a contrast made deep and inviting by Mátyás Erdély’s 35mm photography.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The heat in the car is like an aunt who does not stop smothering us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
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The reddish-brown mud that smothered Bok Kongphan's Hawaii farm has hardened in the tropical sun.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Suffocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocate. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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