1
as in strangles
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
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 suffocates
More than the page itself, the routine summons the part of his conscience that survives on muscle memory and suffocates uncertainty.
—
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Constantly soggy soil suffocates roots and invites rot — the plant equivalent of trench foot.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
Most beginners assume more water equals healthier plants, but constantly soggy soil suffocates roots and triggers rot.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
What did work in one of the older movies, though, was the Oxygen Destroyer device, which effectively suffocates the creature.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Complexity is exactly what suffocates scale.
—May Habib, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
Both novel and opera include a scene in which Salvador Dalí almost suffocates after getting his head stuck in a scuba helmet at an art opening.
—Emma Allen, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Feb. 2026
Aristidou utilizes Danae, whose controlling dad suffocates her with his seemingly overbearing rigidness, as a counterpoint to the other extreme of fatherhood.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Constantly soggy soil suffocates roots and invites rot — the plant equivalent of trench foot.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
Most beginners assume more water equals healthier plants, but constantly soggy soil suffocates roots and triggers rot.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
What did work in one of the older movies, though, was the Oxygen Destroyer device, which effectively suffocates the creature.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Complexity is exactly what suffocates scale.
—May Habib, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
Both novel and opera include a scene in which Salvador Dalí almost suffocates after getting his head stuck in a scuba helmet at an art opening.
—Emma Allen, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Feb. 2026
Aristidou utilizes Danae, whose controlling dad suffocates her with his seemingly overbearing rigidness, as a counterpoint to the other extreme of fatherhood.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocates
Verb
-
Nate comes back to life and strangles Cassie in a dark green Bottega Veneta suit, then Maddy saves her.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
-
Over-regulation strangles the economy!—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Not the one who chokes in the playoffs.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
Democratic lawmakers aren’t particularly sympathetic to the industry, pointing to reports of soaring profits for oil companies as the war chokes consumers around the world.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Shows were led by a sentient wad of meat, a talk-show host who vomits in front of guests, and a reality-TV star who never shows his face.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Absinthe-eyed, she projectile-vomits blunt observations and also oysters onto the heavies, overimbibing her way into her own grave once she’s inevitably discarded with a shot and shove down a stairwell (a barely-there John Magaro plays one of the gangsters).—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But needy, possessive Nikki smothers Bear, and what plays out is a horrifying tale of obsessive love gone wrong — sour, curdled and violent.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2026
-
Carson smothers it over a crisp and shattering tortilla with tart pickled jalapeño, silky avocado crema and a blizzard of cotija cheese.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The more militants are killed, the deeper the city drowns in militant Shia iconography.—
Nabil Salih,
Time,
26 May 2026
-
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
-
That stifles competition at home and, with China’s dependence on global consumption, raises concerns about dumping and deflation abroad.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
Balance the state budget and tackle affordability while working with cities to promote small businesses to hire more by creating a business friendly environment such as cutting taxes and cutting red tape that stifles growth.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Suffocates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocates. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
