1
as in to strangle
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
unfortunately, the robbers were stifled when they got trapped in the airless bank vault
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to suppress
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
stifled a yawn
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stifle
But the more than 6,000 artists who had signed the open letter as of Friday morning find the auction to be an endorsement of work that leeches off human artists and stifles human agency and creativity.
—
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025
Lack of autonomy is stifling, preventing educators from implementing creative solutions and tailoring lessons to meet the diverse needs of their students.
—Gqlshare, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
Natalie Dance was her normal productive self against a stifling Broncos defense, pouring in 18 points, and wing Nya Fano scored nine.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
In the 81st minute, Chelsea picked their way through Brighton’s stifling high press.
—Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025
Lack of autonomy is stifling, preventing educators from implementing creative solutions and tailoring lessons to meet the diverse needs of their students.
—Gqlshare, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
Natalie Dance was her normal productive self against a stifling Broncos defense, pouring in 18 points, and wing Nya Fano scored nine.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
In the 81st minute, Chelsea picked their way through Brighton’s stifling high press.
—Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifle
Verb
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Elijah Green, then 25, and Tony Green, then 22, strangled Vasudeva Kethireddy, 76, to death.—
Laura Barcella,
People.com,
20 Feb. 2025
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Listen to this article A Milford man allegedly stopped a woman from fleeing a home last week during a domestic violence incident, dragging her back inside and strangling her, police said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But the desire to fit in with the group or to avoid conflict can often cause individuals to suppress or hide their authentic self.—
Tyler Shepherd,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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Hippler also ruled against other defense motions that objected to the way warrants were issued in the case and that sought to suppress data obtained from Kohberger's cellphone and his Apple, Amazon and Google accounts.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The suspect cut into the lock just as a train entered the station to muffle the sound, the video shows.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
14 Feb. 2025
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Sporting a series of baggy Hawaiian shirts and ever-present sunglasses, Goggins muffles his indelible charisma under Rick’s shroud of defensive anger and melancholy.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In our solar system, Venus is near the inner edge of the habitable zone, and its surface reaches temperatures of over 800 degrees Fahrenheit (427 degrees Celsius) underneath a thick, choking atmosphere.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
21 Feb. 2025
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Shauna begins choking, blood seeping out from her neck.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In 1938, Hitler, having swallowed Austria, now demanded land from Czechoslovakia, the only democracy in Central Europe or Eastern Europe.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2025
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In 1997, Smith was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a malady that makes basic movements — walking, talking, swallowing, smiling — difficult to impossible.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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New Town dominated a clash of two of Baltimore County's top teams with a smothering defense that made life rough on Dulaney.—
James Peters,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Feb. 2025
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No surprise, in that context, that the Bell Centre crowd was ready to smother him in adoration.—
Pierre LeBrun,
The Athletic,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Trump ran an openly authoritarian campaign in 2024, pledging to prosecute his rivals, punish critical media, and deploy the army to repress protest.—
STEVEN LEVITSKY,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
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China grandstands about Gaza while repressing a Muslim community within its own borders.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When Margaret Craig confronted her daughter and threatened to call the police, Candace Craig suffocated her with a trash bag, then dismembered and burned her body on a barbecue grill in an attempt to dispose of the remains, according to Braveboy.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2025
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The Rebels and the Longhorns suffocate movement within the halfcourt and force opponents to beat them off the dribble.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to stifle
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifle. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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