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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smother
Morgan Sullivan, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2025
Javadi winds up side by side with her mother, who continues to smother her even in the middle of this horror show.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025
Applying dormant oil sprays can smother overwintering pest eggs for fruit trees or shrubs.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smother
Verb
Lisa was also having intrusive thoughts, like seeing her child smothered under a blanket, him being ripped from her husband’s arms.
—Morgan Sullivan, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2025
Javadi winds up side by side with her mother, who continues to smother her even in the middle of this horror show.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
Cardboard and newspapers can be used between rows to smother weeds.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025
Applying dormant oil sprays can smother overwintering pest eggs for fruit trees or shrubs.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smother
Verb
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According to prosecutors, Stinnett briefly regained consciousness and tried to fight back before Montgomery strangled her to death.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Before police could arrest him, Jane Doe told deputies from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office about other times Betancourt battered and strangled her.—
Bay City News Service,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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What is the Google hearing about? U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled in August that Google has illegally exploited its dominance to squash competition and stifle innovation.—
Patrick Maguire,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2025
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In 2020, the Justice Department, joined by a group of states, accused Google of illegally stifling competition by paying the makers of web browsers and phones to set Google as their default search engine.—
John Ruwitch,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Most of those minerals are currently buried beneath thick sheets of previously impenetrable ice.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Two to three weeks after burying the branch, check for new roots.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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While no single creator is behind the movement, the trend gained steam in early 2025.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
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Members can experience steam rooms, saunas and cold plunges, the hydrotherapy circuit across the different club areas, altitude training, treatment at the wellness & recovery spa with trainers who specialize in flexibility and even red-light therapy.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This hazard, hard plastic, and many other physical hazards such as metal and rocks/stones can cause illness or injury to the consumer, including laceration, cuts to the tongue or gum, perforation, occlusion (choking), typically occurring immediately or shortly after consumption.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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Silva walked Mitchell down, shook off takedown attempts, hurt him on the feet, and masterfully choked him out.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The players argue the defendants have suppressed players’ earnings and other professional opportunities.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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By suppressing the body's production of certain hormones, Lupron can pause the physical changes associated with puberty until a more appropriate age.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Republicans will need Democratic support to overcome a 60-vote threshold to be able to pass the bill in the Senate.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Prior court decisions and guidance from the Department of Justice have set up hurdles to overcome before the court is forced to overpass a reporter’s privilege to protect sources.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Then, the dust cloud will reappear in the night sky toward the end of April.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
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Pregame The clouds are rolling into Fayetteville as Arkansas and Texas A&M players go through warmups.—
Matt Jones,
Arkansas Online,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smother. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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