1
as in to strangle
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of suffocate
This is the epitome of the Thunder defense, one of the best in recent history at suffocating ballhandlers and commandeering passing lanes.
—
Joe Vardon, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Too many can clog the filter and even suffocate fish.
Skim or net falling leaves.
—Kelly Roberson, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025
The girls were found near Travis Decker's white truck having been suffocated, with Decker nowhere in sight, court records say.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 June 2025
While that may not be possible in the NBA, where the new collective bargaining agreement is meant to suffocate its biggest spenders with punitive tax payments and roster-building restrictions, the Dodgers have not been cowed by the limits MLB has tried to set on them.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Joe Vardon, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Too many can clog the filter and even suffocate fish.
Skim or net falling leaves.
—Kelly Roberson, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025
The girls were found near Travis Decker's white truck having been suffocated, with Decker nowhere in sight, court records say.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 June 2025
While that may not be possible in the NBA, where the new collective bargaining agreement is meant to suffocate its biggest spenders with punitive tax payments and roster-building restrictions, the Dodgers have not been cowed by the limits MLB has tried to set on them.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for suffocate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocate
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
For more than a minute, audio captures the sounds of a struggle: grunting, choking.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
-
As a result, millions more children and vulnerable people will be forced to choke on toxic fumes while manufacturing executives pour more money into dying steel plants.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
On a transplant list, Kim Betts started vomiting and getting weaker.—
Brad Schmitt,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
-
After eating a stew made from acacia nuts and prickly pear cactus, Will suffered terrible gastrointestinal stress, eventually vomiting blood.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside Online,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
The campers drowned when their bus attempted to evacuate them and was overtaken by floodwater.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 July 2025
-
On Saturday in Porter County, a father, 65, and his 20-year-old son drowned in Lake Michigan.—
Sophie Levenson,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
This lightweight leave-in conditioner is designed for all curl types, from loose waves to coily textures, and hydrates without adding a smothering layer of buildup.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
7 July 2025
-
Instead, bruising inside Aria’s cheeks and cuts in her mouth consistent with being smothered to death were discovered, said Dr. Tran.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suffocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocate. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share