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
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2025
However, many governments still subsidize the harmful status quo and actively stifle innovation.
—Rose Marcario, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
The hope is that this regulatory tightening will weed out weaker players without stifling the innovation that makes BaaS so appealing.
—Zareef Hamid, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Defensively, the Knicks stifled two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, holding him to 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting — well below his season average.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stifle 
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Verb
The Huskies also kept up their stifling defensive effort through the third quarter, though UConn’s less-experienced lineups struggled to limit St. John’s down the stretch.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2025
However, many governments still subsidize the harmful status quo and actively stifle innovation.
—Rose Marcario, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
The hope is that this regulatory tightening will weed out weaker players without stifling the innovation that makes BaaS so appealing.
—Zareef Hamid, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Defensively, the Knicks stifled two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, holding him to 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting — well below his season average.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stifle
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 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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