ASPHYXIATING Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

asphyxiating

verb

present participle of asphyxiate

as in strangling

to cause (someone) to stop breathing and often to become unconscious and die The murder victim was asphyxiated.

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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 asphyxiating Carbon monoxide, an asphyxiating gas, and benzene, a cancer-causing vapor, also exceeded California’s hourly standards in several kitchens. — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 The indictment charges Horner with strangling, smothering or asphyxiating Athena while in the course of kidnapping her. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026 Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, then knelt on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes, asphyxiating him. — Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for asphyxiating

Verb

Horsch in one book described strangling a woman and disposing of her body with a chemical process.

— Joe Holden, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Wandering further afield, Wright recounts the case of Walker Railey, a Methodist minister accused of strangling his wife and leaving her in a vegetative state.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of strangling

Verb

Naya Rivera died of an accidental drowning in 2020 and Cory Monteith died of an accidental overdose in 2013.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
In the years since the series concluded, another loss was suffered as Rivera, who played Santana Lopez, died from drowning in 2020 after going boating with her four-year-old son.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of drowning

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asphyxiates

asphyxiating

aspirant

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“Asphyxiating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiating. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of asphyxiating

verb

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