as in to strangle
to cause (someone) to stop breathing and often to become unconscious and die
The murder victim was asphyxiated.
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Recent Examples of asphyxiate
Medical examiner says Riley was asphyxiated and had blunt-force head trauma
Riley’s father, mother and stepfather left the courtroom before a medical examiner testified about their daughter’s injuries and cause of death.
—
Holly Yan, CNN, 19 Nov. 2024
It was revealed at Lori’s trial that J.J. was asphyxiated while Tylee’s cause of death was undetermined due to the state of her remains.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Tylee had been dismembered and burned; J.J. was asphyxiated and wrapped in plastic and bound by duct tape.
—Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 23 May 2024
At least three inmates died after stuffing paper, sanitary napkins or other items down their throats, asphyxiating before anyone intervened.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Holly Yan, CNN, 19 Nov. 2024
It was revealed at Lori’s trial that J.J. was asphyxiated while Tylee’s cause of death was undetermined due to the state of her remains.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Tylee had been dismembered and burned; J.J. was asphyxiated and wrapped in plastic and bound by duct tape.
—Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 23 May 2024
At least three inmates died after stuffing paper, sanitary napkins or other items down their throats, asphyxiating before anyone intervened.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asphyxiate
Verb
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Menzies was convicted of the 1986 murder of 26-year-old Maurine Hunsaker, a married mother of three who was kidnapped, robbed, strangled, and found tied to a tree with her throat slit.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
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Most of the victims were strangled or asphyxiated, and Gacy buried 26 of the bodies in the crawl space beneath his home; others were found in Chicago waterways, per NPR.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
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In 2024, 34 kids with autism drowned in Florida — half of the national total.—
Karen Cohn,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 July 2025
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Flash floods drowned portions of the state's Hill Country on the Fourth of July, spurred by nearly unprecedented rainfall that swelled the Guadalupe River.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiate. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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