stifled; stifling
ˈstī-f(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to withhold from circulation or expression
stifled our anger
b
: to cut off (the voice, the breath, etc.)
c
: deter, discourage
: to be or become unable to breathe easily
stifling in the heat
: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (such as a horse or dog) corresponding to the human knee see horse illustration
Synonyms
Examples of stifle in a Sentence
Verb
trying to stifle a cry
I had to stifle the desire to yell “Stop!”.
Students at the school are stifled by the pressure to score high on tests.
Too many regulations stifle innovation.
something that stifles the growth of the plant
I wish we could go outside instead of stifling in this tiny room.
He was almost stifled by the smoke.
Recent Examples on the Web
EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024
Banning girls’ education stifles the potential of half the population and hinders social and economic progress.
—Enayat Nasir, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
Last month, Brazil was stifled by a dangerous heat wave that saw its heat index soar to 144 degrees.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
This eclipse may reveal areas where your voice or understanding has been stifled, urging you to seek healing through open dialogue and curiosity.
—Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024
The group eventually found Sinclair’s politics stifling, however, and parted ways with him.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Herbert Hovenkamp, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, criticized the notion that Big Tech firms stifle innovation, saying that the companies file more patents than most firms and roll out new products.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024
By disregarding this fundamental tenet, the administration risks stifling the ...
—Mimi Walters, National Review, 1 Apr. 2024
Refuse to let anyone stifle your dreams or push you in a direction that doesn’t captivate your interest.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024
Ian Bremmer, Time, 3 Jan. 2023
That is an element that McMillan wants to develop after watching the Miami Heat stifle Young in the playoffs, giving the Hawks few other options to get the offense rolling.
—Paul Newberry, ajc, 24 Sep. 2022
That’s partly because Bavarians are equally opposed to market-skewing big government and monopolistic businesses, on the grounds that both stifle competition.
—Osha Gray Davidson, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2015
The US Department of Justice is reportedly preparing an antitrust lawsuit against Apple for abusing its market power to stifle competition.
—Scott Nover, Quartz, 30 Nov. 2022
Most have been imprisoned, injured, and killed by a diehard group trained by the regime to stifle dissent at all costs.
—Tara Kangarlou, Time, 5 Dec. 2022
Control of the Senate remains a toss-up, but even if Democrats retain control of that chamber a GOP House majority would be able stifle President Biden’s agenda.
—Charlie Savage, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Oct. 2022
These bills have delivered results - from tax and fee cuts to removing burdensome red tape and regulations that stifle job creators.
—Jessica Haire, Baltimore Sun, 24 Oct. 2022
It's made in the U.S.A. with eco-friendly materials that stifle bacteria growth.
—John Thompson, Men's Health, 1 Aug. 2022
Verb
Everything changes when Ponyboy meets Cherry Valance (Emma Pittman) and discovers that the Socs feel just as stifled by their living circumstances as the Greasers.
—EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024
Banning girls’ education stifles the potential of half the population and hinders social and economic progress.
—Enayat Nasir, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
Last month, Brazil was stifled by a dangerous heat wave that saw its heat index soar to 144 degrees.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
This eclipse may reveal areas where your voice or understanding has been stifled, urging you to seek healing through open dialogue and curiosity.
—Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024
The group eventually found Sinclair’s politics stifling, however, and parted ways with him.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Herbert Hovenkamp, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, criticized the notion that Big Tech firms stifle innovation, saying that the companies file more patents than most firms and roll out new products.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024
By disregarding this fundamental tenet, the administration risks stifling the ...
—Mimi Walters, National Review, 1 Apr. 2024
Refuse to let anyone stifle your dreams or push you in a direction that doesn’t captivate your interest.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024
Noun
These tools will help autocrats undermine democracy abroad and stifle dissent at home, and enable demagogues and populists within democracies to weaponize AI for narrow political gain at the expense of democracy and civil society.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 3 Jan. 2023
That is an element that McMillan wants to develop after watching the Miami Heat stifle Young in the playoffs, giving the Hawks few other options to get the offense rolling.
—Paul Newberry, ajc, 24 Sep. 2022
That’s partly because Bavarians are equally opposed to market-skewing big government and monopolistic businesses, on the grounds that both stifle competition.
—Osha Gray Davidson, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2015
The US Department of Justice is reportedly preparing an antitrust lawsuit against Apple for abusing its market power to stifle competition.
—Scott Nover, Quartz, 30 Nov. 2022
Most have been imprisoned, injured, and killed by a diehard group trained by the regime to stifle dissent at all costs.
—Tara Kangarlou, Time, 5 Dec. 2022
Control of the Senate remains a toss-up, but even if Democrats retain control of that chamber a GOP House majority would be able stifle President Biden’s agenda.
—Charlie Savage, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Oct. 2022
These bills have delivered results - from tax and fee cuts to removing burdensome red tape and regulations that stifle job creators.
—Jessica Haire, Baltimore Sun, 24 Oct. 2022
It's made in the U.S.A. with eco-friendly materials that stifle bacteria growth.
—John Thompson, Men's Health, 1 Aug. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stifle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
alteration of Middle English stuflen
Noun
Middle English
First Known Use
Verb
1513, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2b
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of stifle was
in the 14th century
Articles Related to stifle
Dictionary Entries Near stifle
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stifle. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
Medical Definition
stifle
noun
sti·fle
ˈstī-fəl
: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (as a horse) corresponding to the knee in humans
More from Merriam-Webster on stifle
Nglish: Translation of stifle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of stifle for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share