as in close
lacking fresh air
inside the bunker it was suffocating, and some of the men had already passed out
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in strangling
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
the law requires the owner of a discarded refrigerator to remove its door so that a child won't get trapped inside and suffocate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in choking
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe
temporarily suffocated by the seat belt
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vomiting
to experience complete or partial blockage of the windpipe
suffocating in the thick, black smoke of the burning building
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of suffocating
Holden Seidlitz, The New Yorker, 10 June 2024
Compare that to Spielberg’s first and so far only attempt at outright farce, the narratively similar 1941, an immense, immaculate contraption that feels more suffocating than liberating.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2024
Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
Or, two days after suffocating the Padres during an 8-0 Game 4 win in Petco Park with a revolving door of relievers, the Dodgers could go that route again and forego a traditional starter.
—Andrew Keatts, Axios, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suffocating 
Adjective
The production-design team pushed the lighting and colors almost too far, creating a suffocating environment.
—Holden Seidlitz, The New Yorker, 10 June 2024
Compare that to Spielberg’s first and so far only attempt at outright farce, the narratively similar 1941, an immense, immaculate contraption that feels more suffocating than liberating.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2024
Verb
Advertisement As greenhouse gas emissions warm the sea, ocean oxygen levels decrease, suffocating wildlife.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
Or, two days after suffocating the Padres during an 8-0 Game 4 win in Petco Park with a revolving door of relievers, the Dodgers could go that route again and forego a traditional starter.
—Andrew Keatts, Axios, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suffocating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocating
Adjective
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Kate Fahey a close second, going for just 20k at the time.Todd Boss, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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Kim, who resigned as defense minister after martial law was lifted, is one of Yoon’s close associates.Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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During an interview with detectives, Lambeth admitted to punching, stomping and strangling Howells, court documents stated.Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024
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He was found guilty of raping the child and strangling her with chicken wire.Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Meanwhile, California is choking on its affordability crisis.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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If the premise is correct that payroll and benefits costs are starting to strangle higher education providers, the first step in restoring free breathing is knowing what’s choking you.Derek Newton, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Costochondritis can also happen after intense exercise, but respiratory infections, certain types of arthritis, coughing or vomiting too hard, or complications from surgery could be responsible for it too.Katie Camero, SELF, 17 Oct. 2024
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Heart attack symptoms can sometimes show up in the arms, back, neck, and jaw, and can bring on shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweats, lightheadedness, and vomiting—all of which are more common among women.Katie Camero, SELF, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
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But those constraints can be stifling, often forcing advertisers to stick to predictable storytelling beats that have worked in the past, resulting in ads that can feel generic.Anne Marie Nelson-Bogle, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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At the same time, maintaining strong security without stifling innovation is always a pressing concern for both organizations and governments.Rizwan Jan, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Moore sprinted down the field in celebration of his game-saving play with 29 seconds left that gave UCLA an unexpectedly breathless 27-20 victory.Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
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Jerry Coyne has a post up which critiques an extremely breathless review of a new book, Epigenetics Revolution.Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 24 Aug. 2011
Adjective
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Bingo! Alivia's tantrum hack—to keep things lighthearted—is a simple one, but a great reminder that not everything has to be so stuffy.Tanay Howard, Parents, 8 Oct. 2024
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Or maybe a stuffy, lackluster atmosphere puts a damper on the entire getaway.Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2024
Verb
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The more vigorous the struggle to escape, the more debt that consumes the drowning victim.Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 5 Dec. 2024
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For instance, children who remember a previous death by drowning may hold a fear of swimming in the present day.Mark Travers, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near suffocating
Cite this Entry
“Suffocating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocating. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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