1
as in to strangle
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
children should never play inside discarded appliances because they could become trapped and smother
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
he quickly smothered his inappropriate laughter at the funeral ceremony
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to bury
to defeat by a large margin
the soccer team smothered their first few opponents in the championships, but lost narrowly in the final round
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of smother
Bonner Russell Cohen, Orange County Register, 9 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately, the good aspects of Cage’s Dracula are smothered by, well, Cage himself.
—Celia Mattison, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
Lisa S. Gardiner, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024
Vargas thwarted Argentina again, making a diving save to smother Nicolás González’s one-timer.
—Steven Goff, Washington Post, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for smother 
Verb
States whose growth is impeded by the smothering presence of BLM land are Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.
—Bonner Russell Cohen, Orange County Register, 9 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately, the good aspects of Cage’s Dracula are smothered by, well, Cage himself.
—Celia Mattison, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
Dark and rotund with spines radiating in all directions, some as long as knitting needles, the urchins eat massive amounts of algae that would otherwise smother corals or prevent coral larvae from affixing to rocks and growing into colonies.
—Lisa S. Gardiner, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024
Vargas thwarted Argentina again, making a diving save to smother Nicolás González’s one-timer.
—Steven Goff, Washington Post, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for smother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smother
Verb
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In 2022, Kayla, a Maryland resident, was brutally raped, strangled with a phone cord and murdered in Harford County by MS-13 gang member and four-time murderer Walter Javier Martinez.Dan Cox, Baltimore Sun, 15 Jan. 2025
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So if someone is strangled to death in the basement of a florist shop in Staten Island, that is a windfall in terms of keeping reader attention.Marco della Cava, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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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
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However, many governments still subsidize the harmful status quo and actively stifle innovation.Rose Marcario, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In São Paulo, where Eunice Paiva, who died in 2018 at 89, is buried, her tomb has reportedly become a pilgrimage site for admirers of this woman who fought for Brazil’s democracy.Alexander Durie, TIME, 7 Jan. 2025
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Carter will be buried next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, who died on Nov. 19, 2023, at the age of 96.Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The sauna and steam rooms will be separated for adults and families rather than by gender.Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 7 Jan. 2025
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The chalets are luxurious, and standard amenities include hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, pool tables, game rooms, home theaters and fireplaces, while some add indoor pools and gyms.Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Adams was booked for a canny professional foul which choked the visitors’ attempts to get back into the game.Greg O'Keeffe, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
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She was later pronounced dead after allegedly being choked.Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Facebook played a major role in the 2020 election and came under fire from Trump and Republicans for allegedly suppressing conservative voices.Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Jan. 2025
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Some Korean veterans of that war were also involved in suppressing uprisings such as the one in Gwangju.Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Sabalenka had to battle past Mirra Andreeva in the semis in a tougher match than the 6-3, 6-2 scoreline suggests, before overcoming a wobbly first set to beat qualifier Polina Kudermetova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the final.Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
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The Lakers’ comeback attempt against the Houston Rockets on Sunday was thwarted by errant out-of-bounds plays late, stopping them from overcoming the Rockets’ early interior dominance.Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Fire tornadoes occur when intense wind combines with conditions in the atmosphere to produce clouds of smoke that reach 20,000 to 40,000 feet, Swain said.Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
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If there’s been some tension, a heavy cloud or just a feeling of stagnation around your passions, romantic life or in regard to children, the universe is embracing you this week and assuring you that the cosmos are still on your side.Kyle Thomas, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near smother
Cite this Entry
“Smother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smother. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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