smother

1 of 2

verb

smoth·​er ˈsmə-t͟hər 

smothered; smothering ˈsmə-t͟hə-riŋ 

ˈsmət͟h-riŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: to kill by depriving of air

b

: to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen

c

: to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of air

2

a

: to suppress expression or knowledge of

smothered his rage

b

: to stop or prevent the growth or activity of

smother a child with too much care

also : overwhelm

c

: to cover thickly : blanket

snow smothered the trails

d

: to overcome or vanquish quickly or decisively

e

: to cause to smolder

3

: to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes

4

: to cook in a covered pan or pot with little liquid over low heat

intransitive verb

: to be overcome or killed through or as if through lack of air

smother

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: thick stifling smoke or smudge

b

: a state of being stifled or suppressed

2

: a dense cloud (as of fog or dust)

3

: a confused multitude of things : welter

smothery

ˈsmə-t͟hə-rē 

ˈsmət͟h-rē

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• choke
• stifle
• strangle
• suffocate

Examples of smother in a Sentence

Verb

He tried to smother her with a pillow.

She smothered the fire with a blanket.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Wells hit a grounder that appeared headed for center field, but Edman smothered it with a diving stop on the second-base side of the bag, holding Wells to a single that loaded the bases. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024

Behind Hield’s outburst, the Warriors (2-0) smothered Utah, 127-86, with relentless defense and rebounding. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024

Noun

Consider applying an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil after pruning to smother scale and insect eggs to the dormant roses. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2024

Chase originally envisioned that Tony Soprano’s (James Gandolfini) mother Livia (Nancy Marchand) would die at the end of season 1 by having Tony smother her. —Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, alteration of smorther, from smoren to smother, from Old English smorian to suffocate; akin to Middle Dutch smoren to suffocate

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

smother

verb

smoth·​er

ˈsmət͟h-ər

smothered; smothering

-(ə-)riŋ

1

: to be overcome or killed through lack of air

2

: to overcome or kill by depriving of air or exposing to smoke or fumes

3

a

: to prevent the development or actions of

smother a child with too much care

b

: to cover up : suppress

smother a yawn

c

: to cover thickly

steak smothered with mushrooms