SUFFOCATING Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

suffocating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsə-fə-ˌkā-tiŋ

Definition of suffocating

as in close

lacking fresh air inside the bunker it was suffocating, and some of the men had already passed out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

suffocating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of suffocate

as in strangling

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in choking

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in vomiting

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

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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 suffocating

Adjective

Following a first week marked by a suffocating heatwave, relief finally arrived in Paris on Sunday, with temperatures dropping to 21 degrees C (70 F) around midday. — ABC News, 31 May 2026 This matchup features two ascendant young stars in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama (who finished first and third in MVP voting, respectively), exciting young talent, a legitimate regional rivalry and two suffocating defenses. — Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 18 May 2026

Verb

But against a suffocating new-look defense spearheaded by Williams, the Valkyries stifled Plum to the tune of a season-low nine points on 3-of-10 shooting and just 2 of 3 from the free throw line. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 The Hurricanes held Vegas to five total goals in Games 4 and 5 and used a suffocating defense in a 3-0 shutout in Sunday night's clinching Game 6 to win their first championship in 20 years. — CBS News, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for suffocating

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocating

Adjective

Even though talks with the Boston Red Sox at last year’s deadline never got close, the confusion provided by an incorrect tweet announcing Ryan’s trade to New England put the pitcher at the top of every trade list before the season even began.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
Ashley Smith is the manager of player engagement for the NFL, and the siblings are close.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026

Definition of close

Verb

In December 2023, Sarah Steele accused Jacob Wulfson, a US air force captain also based at Lakenheath, of drugging, assaulting and strangling her after meeting via a dating app.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 8 July 2026
Another 74-year-old, Dennis Sochor, is scheduled to die July 14 for strangling an 18-year-old woman in Broward County on New Year’s Eve 1981.

— Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2026

Definition of strangling

Verb

Since babies explore with their mouths, the balls could become a choking hazard.

— Sari Hitchins, Parents, 6 July 2026
The brand has received no reports of injury or death but did warn that consuming the metal and plastic parts could cause choking, lacerations or blockages in the gastrointestinal tract.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of choking

Adjective

For all the deserved talk about the Knicks’ dynamic offense, the defense has been far more stifling than their reputation suggests.

— Fred Katz, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Her mother, who had a staid upbringing in California, came to New York in the early sixties looking for someplace more diverse and less stifling.

— Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026

Definition of stifling

Verb

Like English ivy, kudzu spreads very aggressively, smothering out native species and potentially becoming a real problem for your garden.

— Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 23 June 2026
The Boston Bruins would like to incorporate the Hurricanes’ smothering defense and relentless attack.

— Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Definition of smothering

Adjective

Physical comedy and razor-sharp wit collide in this carnival of theatrical surprises — a masterful blend of classic French farce and contemporary slapstick that will leave audiences breathless with laughter, the news release states.

— News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
However, extravagant demands from government litigators are better suited to generate breathless headlines than favorable court rulings.

— David B Mcgarry, Oc Register, 8 July 2026

Definition of breathless

Verb

Investigation and potential parental charges While the medical response faces scrutiny, local law enforcement is focusing on the events leading up to the near-drowning.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 8 July 2026
The death marked the fourth fatal drowning on the Lake of the Ozarks in 2026, according to the patrol’s data.

— Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026

Definition of drowning

Browse Nearby Words

suffocates

suffocating

suffrage

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Style

“Suffocating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocating. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of suffocating

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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