as in close
lacking fresh air
inside the bunker it was suffocating, and some of the men had already passed out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in choking
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 vomiting
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
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Recent Examples of suffocating
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
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
15 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.
—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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.
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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
The Carolina Hurricanes’ stifling defense that has defined them for close to a decade finally made an appearance in the Cup Final, suffocating the Golden Knights en route to a 3-0 victory and their first championship in 20 years.
—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
15 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.
—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffocating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocating
Adjective
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With the wrap in front of you, fold up the edge closest to you.
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Because wells in the region are large and close to one another, restarting production will require significant coordination across companies and countries to ensure consistent pressure across multiple wells.
Verb
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Heuermann admitted in April to strangling all of his victims over a 17-year span beginning in 1993.
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Heuermann, 62, admitted in April to strangling eight women and leaving their remains in remote areas of Long Island between 1993 and 2010, which have been dubbed the Gilgo Beach killings.
Verb
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According to the criminal complaint, the boy told police Diggs began choking him before dragging him into the nearby alley.
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Officer Nicholas Samartino of the Woodbridge Police Department responded to a report that a 5-day-old infant was choking and experiencing difficulty breathing back in May, according to police.
Verb
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The pulses are designed to normalize the nerve messaging from the brain to the stomach to relieve symptoms of nausea and vomiting without side effects.
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Later that night, Beanz started vomiting.
Adjective
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For all the deserved talk about the Knicks’ dynamic offense, the defense has been far more stifling than their reputation suggests.
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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.
Verb
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The Boston Bruins would like to incorporate the Hurricanes’ smothering defense and relentless attack.
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Natural methods like smothering with a tarp, flame weeding, or pulling by hand can effectively eliminate white clover.
Adjective
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Last night, England played its first game of the tournament—a rematch against Croatia, in Dallas—and the defensive prowess was a speck on the horizon; both sides scored twice in a breathless first half.
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She’s also written about women’s basketball for The Believer, and recently published a breathless Knicks play-by-play for SB Nation.
Verb
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Olivia Taylor, the assistant manager of the swim school, says clearing up misconceptions about what drowning actually looks like and getting anyone comfortable in and around the water, are some of the most important parts of teaching someone how to swim.
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Forty-three years ago on June 29, Delaney — the promising Chiefs running back who was the 1981 AFC Rookie of the Year — died trying to save three children drowning in a park in Monroe, Louisiana.
Cite this Entry
“Suffocating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocating. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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