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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to choke
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe temporarily suffocated by the seat belt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to vomit
to experience complete or partial blockage of the windpipe suffocating in the thick, black smoke of the burning building

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of suffocate Remove Leaves Leaves in your pond can clog filters and suffocate fish, a problem that's especially heightened from fall into winter. Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2025 From there, the Tigers leaned on a defense that suffocated South Carolina’s run game and delivered key stops in the final minutes. Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025 Too much water can suffocate their roots. Viola Flowers, NBC news, 20 Sep. 2025 Authorities determined that the three girls had suffocated to death. Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocate
Verb
  • According to the lawsuit, her suicidal thoughts escalated in June 2023 after another patient attempted to strangle herself and staff failed to intervene, even as the unnamed patient turned blue.
    Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Scott was convicted of participating in the 1981 murder of Larry Miner, who was tied up, beaten, strangled and stabbed.
    Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Foreign material in food products presents health risks, including choking, damage to teeth and digestive tract injury.
    Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The punishment was allegedly being body slammed and choked.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • These maggots vomit and excrete illuminated threads of bile to entice tiny insects to their deaths.
    Ann Patchett, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • That horrible mistake reveals itself several scenes later when Katie projectile vomits into her windshield.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The 46-year-old former country star and 42-year-old actress suffered a tragedy in 2019 when their 3-year-old son River drowned in the pool outside their Texas home.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Birria and tortas ahogadas, a sandwich drowned in red salsa, are local staples, perfect for recovering after a long night out.
    David Shortell, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, the Cowboys played Cover 2, and that look was smothered, so Love checked the ball down to running back Emanuel Wilson, who tried to make cornerback DaRon Bland miss with an inside move but was tackled for a loss of 1 with the clock running.
    Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Tight end Dalton Kincaid continues to be a steady target in the middle of the field, and the Buffalo defense has been just as dominant, smothering passing attacks and forcing timely turnovers.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suffocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocate. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on suffocate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!