smothering 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of smotheringnext
as in suffocating

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smothering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of smother
1
as in strangling
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifling
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 burying
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothering
  1. suffocating
  2. strangling
  3. stifling
  4. oppressive
  5. choking
  6. suppressing
  7. drowning
  8. swallowing
Adjective
  • Can the art of opera ever escape the suffocating grip of its magnificent past?
    Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2024
  • And congestion pricing will boost our economy by liberating people, goods and services from the most suffocating traffic tie-ups in the entire country.
    Jerry Nadler, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of suffocating
Verb
  • He had been arrested for allegedly strangling his then-girlfriend, Johnny Faye Cartwright, in 2020.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 4 Jan. 2025
  • His trouble with the law began in 2020, when he was arrested for allegedly strangling his girlfriend at an Oregon home.
    Julia Moore, People.com, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of strangling
Verb
  • However, a lack of autonomy growing up can strongly trigger the need for independence and reinforce negative attitudes about how future relationships may continue to be stifling.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
  • The core of their legal challenge revolves around claims that the charter agreement breaches antitrust laws by stifling competition.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of stifling
Adjective
  • But the backdrops are rendered with an oppressive prettiness that has a perverse cheapening effect.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025
  • The total absence of shadow is an oppressive sensation, which engenders a feeling similar to that of claustrophobia.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of oppressive
Verb
  • Cut smaller kids' meals into little bites to prevent choking.
    Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Thomas Conley, a second-grade student at Porter Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona, noticed that his friend was choking on a grape and sprang into action, according to local reports.
    Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of choking
Verb
  • Instead of suppressing your emotions, practice emotional validation—acknowledge and accept your feelings without judgment.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • His approach promises a more collaborative regulatory framework, fostering innovation rather than suppressing it.
    Leeor Shimron, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of suppressing
Verb
  • Police say a 3-month-old baby has died after drowning in a motel bathtub on New Year’s Day.
    Abigail Adams, People.com, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Her cause of death was drowning, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner ruled.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Definition of drowning
Verb
  • Kids older than one year can be given honey to help neutralize the damage, but swallowing a button battery is a life-threatening emergency for which parents should immediately seek medical care.
    Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Symptoms include general weakness, muscle weakness, dizziness, double-vision, abdominal tension, constipation, trouble with speaking or swallowing and difficulty in breathing.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of swallowing
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near smothering

smothered

smothering

smothers

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Cite this Entry

“Smothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothering. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on smothering

Nglish: Translation of smothering for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of smothering for Arabic Speakers

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