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
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
Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
But Finch was unable to come up with any schematic answers for OKC’s suffocating defense or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ruthlessness on offense.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 29 May 2025
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
But the movie is also about a different kind of horror associated with having a child — Valeria is being forced to conform to the role of mother, with the sometimes suffocating restrictions of traditional family values.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocating
Adjective
And with the team operating under the suffocating grip of new CBA, every dollar must work overtime.
—Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
But Finch was unable to come up with any schematic answers for OKC’s suffocating defense or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ruthlessness on offense.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Verb
Sheep’s wool is also highly damaging to vital river systems, as excrement from the UK’s 31 million sheep and chemical sheep dips run into waterways, causing suffocating eutrophication.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
But the movie is also about a different kind of horror associated with having a child — Valeria is being forced to conform to the role of mother, with the sometimes suffocating restrictions of traditional family values.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocating
Adjective
-
This was a decisive turn away from Hasina’s India-first posture and toward closer alignment with Beijing.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Highly acidic foods like pickles and tomatoes will react with the can after an extended period of time, causing both taste and texture changes so pay particularly close attention to expiration dates on these items.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The man previously on Florida’s Death Row for beating, stabbing and strangling a La Carreta waitress with a rice cooker — before lighting a blaze to destroy key evidence — should be condemned to die, Miami prosecutors told a jury after detailing the slaying on Wednesday morning.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
5 Nov. 2025
-
When Josh got home five minutes later, Martin met him at the door with a knife and chased him upstairs, stabbing him and then strangling him with a belt or a rope, Evans said.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The clouds billowed as far east as New York, choking farm economies in the middle of the country and sending millions of people on the move.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The two eventually fell to the floor of the bus, and the choking continued, according to the complaint.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Robert returns to his desk only to find that Invisigal had stolen him a donut as a gesture of good faith, which is now smeared all over his keyboard for the new janitor, Water Boy, to clean by vomiting H20 on the mess.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
22 Oct. 2025
-
On Easter Day in 2019, a sweating and erratic Kay — who was allegedly vomiting and dancing with his shirt off — was taken home from the stadium and later hospitalized.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The space was stifling in the Louisiana heat, so fans were blowing for everyone inside.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Like the face-to-face collaboration benefits lost at GISS, employees fear shutting down Goddard's cafeteria will be stifling.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Intentional or not, Sano Masaya’s voice performance in the lead role is sometimes a bit too breathless and whimsical for the material at hand.—
Kambole Campbell,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Left to die, breathless and alone, Invisigal chokes while Robert screams from the other end of the comms.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Brett Gelman, as the zany Murray, became a fan-favorite recurring character, while Cara Buono continued her role as Mike Wheeler's likable but smothering mom, Karen Wheeler.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The Agfabric frost blanket is a simple way to protect plants from frost, wind and pests without smothering them.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Create an elevated space that's anything but stuffy with these decorating and design ideas.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Nov. 2025
-
When the air turns crisp in fall and winter, the dryness indoors can sneak up on you — and so can flaky skin, a scratchy throat, and stuffy sinuses (not to mention allergens).—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suffocating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocating. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share