asphyxiate

verb

as·​phyx·​i·​ate as-ˈfik-sē-ˌāt How to pronounce asphyxiate (audio)
əs-
asphyxiated; asphyxiating

transitive verb

: to cause asphyxia in : to kill, suspend animation in, or make unconscious through want of adequate oxygen, presence of noxious agents, or other obstruction to normal breathing
The murder victim was asphyxiated.

intransitive verb

: to become asphyxiated
… ended in several deaths, including that of a … secretary who asphyxiated during a smoke bombing.Robert I. Friedman

Examples of asphyxiate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web On the occasion of his 100th birthday last week, former-President Jimmy Carter received praise from across the political spectrum for his leadership in freeing important parts of the U.S. economy from the asphyxiating tentacles of the regulatory state. Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 Over the past five years alone, people have been crushed, asphyxiated, struck by mooring lines, ensnared in equipment, fallen overboard or otherwise killed or injured on Synergy’s watch, USA TODAY found. USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024 That protocol forbids its signatories to use asphyxiating gas on one another (without explicitly banning its use against a non-party) although, at the same time, demands its members’ consent that the prohibition on asphyxiating gases be universally binding. Richard Price, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2013 Zoom in: Infected poultry has to be culled by asphyxiating the birds. Tina Reed, Axios, 17 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for asphyxiate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'asphyxiate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see asphyxia

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of asphyxiate was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near asphyxiate

Cite this Entry

“Asphyxiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asphyxiate. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

asphyxiate

verb
as·​phyx·​i·​ate as-ˈfik-sē-ˌāt How to pronounce asphyxiate (audio)
asphyxiated; asphyxiating
: to cause asphyxia in
asphyxiation noun

Medical Definition

asphyxiate

verb
as·​phyx·​i·​ate -sē-ˌāt How to pronounce asphyxiate (audio)
asphyxiated; asphyxiating

transitive verb

: to cause asphyxia in
also : to kill or make unconscious through inadequate oxygen, presence of noxious agents, or other obstruction to normal breathing
asphyxiation noun
asphyxiator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on asphyxiate

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