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

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

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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 The crowd was relentless with a suffocating pressure throughout the match. Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025 The suffocating smell of overflowing ashtrays. Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025 Travis Decker, the man believed to have suffocated and abandoned his three young daughters at a campsite in the Washington state wilderness, is dead, Chelan County authorities said Thursday. Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025 But if the high taxes suffocate the market, how viable could that be in the long run? The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocate
Verb
  • He was then stabbed and strangled to death, Evans said.
    Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Daryl charges inside and fights off walkers before strangling Chofo in the bathtub.
    Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The young girl allegedly told police she was beaten with belts, cords, and sticks, while she was also cut with scissors and choked with a belt, per ABC 13 citing the Sheriff's Office.
    Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Just remember that eating chia seeds dry can be a choking hazard and cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
    Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Rates of nausea and vomiting among those patients were 13% and 11% above placebo, respectively.
    Annika Kim Constantino,Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Scout stayed at the vet for observation, coughing and vomiting throughout the period, and had her vitals rechecked several hours later.
    Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • People fled to the roof, where the roar of rushing water nearly drowned out the approach of rescue helicopters, Mitchell said.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The risk of drowning for autistic children is more than 160 times greater than the general child population, according to a 2017 study by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.
    Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This flowy, breathable midi dress is going to provide coverage when a cool breeze comes through, without leaving you feeling smothered on a warm October day.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Suffocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocate. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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