asphyxiation
noun
as·phyx·i·ation
as-ˌfik-sē-ˈā-shən 
əs-
: deprivation of oxygen that can result in unconsciousness and often death : an act of asphyxiating a person or animal or a state of asphyxia : suffocation
The autopsy showed that the cause of death was asphyxiation.
Pliny the Elder did not die of falling pumice, but of asphyxiation, as he breathed noxious fumes from the eruption.—
Sidney Perkowitz
Sidney PerkowitzAsphyxiation at birth caused permanent impairment of his nerve-signaling system …—Ann Geracimos
Ann GeracimosIn rats, mice, and rabbits ciguatera poison causes death by asphyxiation.—Kwang-ming Li
Kwang-ming LiExamples of asphyxiation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Six other children died from either drowning while playing, a collision, or ingesting a toy, as well as asphyxiation after getting trapped within a toy chest.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
The postmortems took place at a hospital in Palermo, where it was discovered that four of the casualties had died of asphyxiation, perhaps trapped in dwindling air pockets in the yacht’s cabins; the others had possibly drowned, but an investigation is ongoing.
—airmail.news, 19 Aug. 2024
Sammy died by suicide, the coroner’s office said, ruling his death via asphyxiation.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Dec. 2024
The medical examiner who performed Neely’s autopsy listed his cause of death as asphyxiation due to the chokehold.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Dec. 2024
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
The postmortems took place at a hospital in Palermo, where it was discovered that four of the casualties had died of asphyxiation, perhaps trapped in dwindling air pockets in the yacht’s cabins; the others had possibly drowned, but an investigation is ongoing.
—airmail.news, 19 Aug. 2024
Sammy died by suicide, the coroner’s office said, ruling his death via asphyxiation.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Dec. 2024
The medical examiner who performed Neely’s autopsy listed his cause of death as asphyxiation due to the chokehold.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for asphyxiation
Dictionary Entries Near asphyxiation
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asphyxiation. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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