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

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 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

Verb

Montanans are suffocating due to an affordability crisis, rising fuel prices and an inexplicable war. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026 Her plan was to float around an underwater living room set up in her inner, surreal, suffocating fantasy world. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suffocating

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocating

Adjective

With six couples, having two separate houses gave us space to spread out while keeping everyone close enough to gather for dinner, drinks, and games.

— Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
These regions could warrant closer investigation, but the assessment does not establish that any is suitable for a future greenhouse.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of close

Verb

Wandering further afield, Wright recounts the case of Walker Railey, a Methodist minister accused of strangling his wife and leaving her in a vegetative state.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Prosecutors said Navarrete got his parents into the garage and struck both his mother and father on the head with an object, before strangling them to death while facing them.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of strangling

Verb

On the surface, his new album Antione’s Son is the same old same old—airy melodies, drug talk, vomiting ad-libs—but punched up by suburban ennui and in-the-weeds romantic tales that makes the music feel refreshingly personal.

— Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Robertson said that about two days later, her daughter started vomiting, developed a high fever, and had severe diarrhea.

— Erin Jones, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of vomiting

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

Prosecutors have pointed to an autopsy report that said the children’s symptoms were consistent with being smothering.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 20 Oct. 2026
That smothering defense flustered the Valkyries into committing 19 turnovers that led to 24 points for Atlanta.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of smothering

Adjective

And belief isn’t manufactured by marketing departments, slick hype videos or breathless preseason predictions.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Flaco the owl became a celebrity Central Park resident, with breathless news coverage of Flaco’s impressive self-preservation skills and, eventually, mournful obituaries when Flaco died after flying into a building.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of breathless

Verb

Naya Rivera died of an accidental drowning in 2020 and Cory Monteith died of an accidental overdose in 2013.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
In the years since the series concluded, another loss was suffered as Rivera, who played Santana Lopez, died from drowning in 2020 after going boating with her four-year-old son.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 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 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of suffocating

adjective

verb

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