as in close
lacking fresh air
inside the bunker it was suffocating, and some of the men had already passed out
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suffocating
Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 19 Nov. 2025
The Vikings never seemed to know what was coming next during the Chargers’ comprehensive 37-10 victory, unable to contend with Herbert and the offense or solve a suffocating defense that sacked Minnesota quarterback Carson Wentz five times and limited him to only 144 yards passing.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
And here comes Cameron's absolute genius in the director's chair, building on the sci-fi horror of the first with visually terrifying xenomorphs, suffocating tension, and world-building prowess that truly takes you away from reality.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocating
Adjective
Halftime: Texas 48, James Madison 22 A balanced offensive attack and a suffocating defense has undefeated Texas halfway home to its fifth victory of the season.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 19 Nov. 2025
The Vikings never seemed to know what was coming next during the Chargers’ comprehensive 37-10 victory, unable to contend with Herbert and the offense or solve a suffocating defense that sacked Minnesota quarterback Carson Wentz five times and limited him to only 144 yards passing.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
The team that plays stingy, suffocating, stifling defense.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
And here comes Cameron's absolute genius in the director's chair, building on the sci-fi horror of the first with visually terrifying xenomorphs, suffocating tension, and world-building prowess that truly takes you away from reality.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocating
Adjective
-
Trump has formed close alliances with conservative tech figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and investor David Sacks, who serves as the White House AI and crypto czar.—
Joseph Menn The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Discussions with partners, spouses and close friends will be clear-headed and direct.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His criminal history included convictions for robbery, kidnapping and attempting to kill a corrections officer by strangling him.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The serial killers, later revealed to be cousins Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, were accused of kidnapping, raping and strangling 10 women between October 1977 and February 1978.—
Kelsey Lentz,
PEOPLE,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Remember that smaller caps are a choking hazard.—
Chris Baskind,
Treehugger,
20 Jan. 2026
-
My kids are past the concerns about choking and drowning (although these hazards also exist for adults).—
Rahul Jandial,
Parents,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In clinical trials, Nereus helped up to 90 percent of people prone to motion sickness avoid vomiting while riding on a boat.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The predominant symptoms experienced by the ill passengers and crew members were vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In New York, a broader proposal to ban masks on the subway drew criticism about stifling protests.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Then, on the other end, the Longhorns' stifling defense often caused turnovers, forcing the Gamecocks to look for their third or fourth option on the floor.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
However, in comparison to the breathless enthusiasm of previous years, the talk was centered firmly on value.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Joseph Kosinski’s big, fun, breathless racing movie, which also got into best editing, sound, and visual effects—proof that no matter how international and high-brow the Academy gets, crowd-pleasing blockbusters never go out of fashion.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With Stalin’s large standing army smothering half of Europe, and his fledgling nuclear arsenal extending Moscow’s ambitions overseas, America had to scramble.—
Barry Scott Zellen,
Hartford Courant,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Daniels’ game had hit another level, not just because of smothering defense but also because of an advanced offensive repertoire, which those around him attributed more to the mind than the body.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But awards voters who snipe at talent anonymously in trade publications enjoy the stuffy, demure rhetoric the Marty machine largely ignored.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Instead of helping a room feel inviting, window treatments that are way too dressy can feel stuffy and outdated.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Suffocating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocating. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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