suffocating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsə-fə-ˌkā-tiŋ How to pronounce suffocating (audio)
Definition of suffocatingnext
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
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
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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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
Huge parts Europe have been suffocating under a stubborn heat dome parked over the continent, trapping hot air and leading to extreme and dangerous heat and humidity. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 The conception of the role, marked by a dim view of stardom’s suffocating alienation, was something Jolie clearly understood. — Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for suffocating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocating
  1. close
  2. strangling
  3. choking
  4. vomiting
  5. stifling
  6. smothering
  7. breathless
  8. drowning
Adjective
  • Cuba has struggled to import fuel since the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, Havana’s closest ally.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Punk hit a big clothesline for a close two-count and then went for the GTS.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of close
Verb
  • After strangling her children, Lindsay Clancy cut her wrists and throat and jumped from that window, testimony on Monday showed.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 29 July 2026
  • Prosecutors accused the Massachusetts mother of strangling her three children — Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan — to death at their home in a Boston suburb in 2023.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026
Definition of strangling
Verb
  • Blackwell was charged with strangulation and simple assault after allegedly grabbing his girlfriend by her wrist and choking her on April 4, according to the criminal complaint.
    — Patrick Damp, CBS News, 30 July 2026
  • There are dozens more fires burning across the state, choking the air in Oregon and sending smoke across the country.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
Definition of choking
Verb
  • Any attempt to recapture their childhoods was quickly quashed, however, as exemplified by Dee getting her hair caught in a drop-tower ride and Dennis vomiting right next to her.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
  • Soap and water keep you safe, though, so if someone around you is vomiting or has diarrhea, Griffin says, head for the sink.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 27 July 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
  • Rodri, Spain’s captain and the anchor of the team’s smothering defense during its unbeaten World Cup run, won the Golden Ball award as the outstanding player of the tournament.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • Argentina battled Spain’s smothering defense, but Messi was limited to just 15 touches during the first half, according to ESPN.
    — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
Definition of smothering
Adjective
  • Another excellent solo goal by Jude Bellingham ultimately secured third place for Thomas Tuchel’s side in a breathless match that offered entertainment beyond comparison.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • One of the best things about this episode’s edit is the sharp contrast between the players’ breathless race up and down the line of rooms and shots of the more relaxed atmosphere in any room that isn’t actively in use.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Definition of breathless
Verb
  • Since Trigg's death, Emilie Kiser has used her platform to advocate for drowning prevention.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • Tony tries drowning his sorrows at the bar of the Flagship, a no-frills seafood eatery run by a man identified only as Chef (Antonio Banderas).
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
Definition of drowning

Browse Nearby Words

suffocates
suffocating
suffrage
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Cite this Entry

“Suffocating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocating. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of suffocating for Spanish Speakers

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