stifled; stifling
ˈstī-f(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to withhold from circulation or expression
stifled our anger
b
: to cut off (the voice, the breath, etc.)
c
: deter, discourage
: to be or become unable to breathe easily
stifling in the heat
: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (such as a horse or dog) corresponding to the human knee see horse illustration
Examples of stifle in a Sentence
Verb
trying to stifle a cry
I had to stifle the desire to yell “Stop!”.
Students at the school are stifled by the pressure to score high on tests.
Too many regulations stifle innovation.
something that stifles the growth of the plant
I wish we could go outside instead of stifling in this tiny room.
He was almost stifled by the smoke.
Recent Examples on the Web
Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Leave behind New York’s stifling policies and discover a state where your ambition can soar.
—Mike Dunleavy, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
Still, so many spectators showed up to watch live that Judge John Raulston feared the floor would collapse and, for reasons that also included the stifling heat of July in a Southern state, moved the proceedings to the courthouse lawn on July 20.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025
These limitations stifle personal growth and create a brain drain, as the most ambitious individuals feel compelled to leave their countries without clear routes for return.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
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Verb
While luck will favor some and stifle others, here are a few tips on how join the first group:
Be Loyal: Elite status with an airline can work wonders.
—Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Leave behind New York’s stifling policies and discover a state where your ambition can soar.
—Mike Dunleavy, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
Still, so many spectators showed up to watch live that Judge John Raulston feared the floor would collapse and, for reasons that also included the stifling heat of July in a Southern state, moved the proceedings to the courthouse lawn on July 20.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025
These limitations stifle personal growth and create a brain drain, as the most ambitious individuals feel compelled to leave their countries without clear routes for return.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stifle. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
stifle
noun
sti·fle
ˈstī-fəl
: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (as a horse) corresponding to the knee in humans
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