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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in choking
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe
temporarily suffocated by the seat belt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suffocating
Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2024
Still, a similar result ends Patterson Mill’s season, while Perryville and its suffocating defense move on.
—Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 23 Nov. 2024
EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024
The girl was a neighbor at his Purcell apartment complex who Underwood admitted to luring into his apartment and beating her over the head with a cutting board before suffocating her to death.
—CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for suffocating
Adjective
The Mavericks could have been forgiven for taking a knee given the suffocating nature of a Thompson Valley defense that allowed 89 points this season.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2024
Still, a similar result ends Patterson Mill’s season, while Perryville and its suffocating defense move on.
—Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 23 Nov. 2024
Verb
The weight of betrayal was suffocating.
—EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024
The girl was a neighbor at his Purcell apartment complex who Underwood admitted to luring into his apartment and beating her over the head with a cutting board before suffocating her to death.
—CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for suffocating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocating
Adjective
-
Archway provides a no-obligation offer within 24 hours, can pay cash and close within three days or on a future date of the seller’s choice, and there are no fees or commissions to pay.—
Archway Homes,
Kansas City Star,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Since Sullivan’s arrest, there have been calls for a state-level investigation and a closer examination of its safety net for children, including homeschooling practices, around which there is little or no regulation, according to a 2018 Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate report.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN,
23 Mar. 2025
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
Verb
-
Cut smaller kids' meals into little bites to prevent choking.—
Ryan Murphy,
The Indianapolis Star,
24 Dec. 2024
-
The maneuver has a success rate of more than 86% in choking cases, research has shown.—
Melissa Rudy,
Fox News,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Feeling extreme discomfort with words or discussions related to vomiting.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
13 Dec. 2024
-
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
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
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Then again, the same could be said for all of MLB, which is considered stuffier than the NFL and NBA.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2025
-
His Olympic Agenda 2020 did away with some of the IOC’s stuffier traditions and paved the way for the inclusion of trendy urban sports like BMX and breaking at the Games.—
Blythe Lawrence,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
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
-
The cause of death was drowning, according to the Monroe County Medical Examiner.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
2 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suffocating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocating. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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