suffocate

verb

suf·​fo·​cate ˈsə-fə-ˌkāt 

suffocated; suffocating

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to stop the respiration of (as by strangling or asphyxiation)

(2)

: to deprive of oxygen

b

: to make uncomfortable by want of fresh air

2

: to impede or stop the development of

intransitive verb

1

: to become suffocated:

a(1)

: to die from being unable to breathe

(2)

: to die from lack of oxygen

b

: to be uncomfortable through lack of fresh air

2

: to become checked in development

suffocation

ˌsə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

suffocative

ˈsə-fə-ˌkā-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms

• choke
• smother
• stifle
• strangle

Examples of suffocate in a Sentence

The poor dog could suffocate in the car on a hot day like this.

Don't put your head in a plastic bag—you could suffocate.

Recent Examples on the Web

According to prosecutors, Correa and others beat detainees with pipes, burned them with molten plastic and acid, shocked them with electricity and suffocated them with plastic bags. —Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

UConn suffocated a Gamecocks offense limited in options and carved up the defending champion’s aggressive defense. —Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025

With 11-time All-Star guard Stephen Curry missing his second straight game because of a left pelvic contusion, the Heat’s defense suffocated a Warriors offense missing its top scorer. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2025

With 6-foot-4 forward Rayah Marshall leading at the front of the press, USC completely suffocated the Greensboro offense, clogging up passing lanes and disrupting every possession. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin suffōcātus, past participle of suffōcāre "to stifle, choke, deprive of air, squeeze together," from suf-, assimilated form of sub- sub- + -fōcāre, verbal derivative of fauc-, faux (ordinarily in plural faucēs) "upper part of the throat, pharynx, windpipe," of obscure origin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Rhymes for suffocate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

suffocate

verb

suf·​fo·​cate ˈsəf-ə-ˌkāt 

suffocated; suffocating

1

a

: to stop the breathing of (as by strangling)

b

: to deprive of oxygen

c

: to make uncomfortable by want of fresh air

2

: to become suffocated

especially : to die or suffer from being unable to breathe or from lack of oxygen

suffocation

ˌsəf-ə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

suffocate

verb

suf·​fo·​cate ˈsəf-ə-ˌkāt 

suffocated; suffocating

transitive verb

1

: to stop the respiration of (as by strangling or asphyxiation)

2

: to deprive of oxygen

intransitive verb

: to die from being unable to breathe

suffocative

-ˌkāt-iv 

adjective