1
as in strangles
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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 suffocates
Silence starves relevance; invisibility suffocates status.
—
Rob Shuter, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
But for this to work, these supercities must have freedom from the bureaucratic maze that suffocates current development.
—Zoltan Istvan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Just like particles behave differently when observed, your business suffocates under micromanagement.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocates
Verb
-
Mostly, though, Boland strangles batters with his suffocating and deadly-accurate line and length.—
-
What starts as an innocent father/daughter college visit takes a shocking turn when Tony brutally strangles a Mob turncoat.—
Verb
-
Physical bullying happens when a child hits, kicks, trips, pushes, chokes or otherwise hurts another child.—
-
Left to die, breathless and alone, Invisigal chokes while Robert screams from the other end of the comms.—
Verb
-
My cat vomits once every week or two.—
-
Be aware the virus may be aerosolized when someone vomits, meaning surfaces several feet away could be contaminated, the USDA said.—
Verb
-
Complexity smothers everything, like Japanese knotweed.—
-
If either smothers the grass for long periods, this can compact soil and lead to mold problems.—
Verb
-
Baseus Noise-cancelling Headphones These noise-cancelling headphones are a must-have for frequent travelers, delivering adaptive noise reduction that drowns out jet engine roar, crying babies, and chatty seatmates for peaceful flights or train rides.—
-
About once a year, someone drowns.—
Verb
-
Administrative red tape stifles growth Beyond direct financial costs, small business owners are struggling with a sudden increase in bureaucratic red tape.—
-
Over-regulation stifles American growth and aids China in this crucial race for global strength.—
Cite this Entry
“Suffocates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocates. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share