smothering 1 of 2

adjective

as in suffocating

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smothering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of smother
1
as in strangling
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air children should never play inside discarded appliances because they could become trapped and smother

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifling
to refrain from openly showing or uttering he quickly smothered his inappropriate laughter at the funeral ceremony

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in burying
to defeat by a large margin the soccer team smothered their first few opponents in the championships, but lost narrowly in the final round

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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 smothering
Verb
Prosecutors have pointed to an autopsy report that said the children’s symptoms were consistent with being smothering. — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 20 Oct. 2026 That smothering defense flustered the Valkyries into committing 19 turnovers that led to 24 points for Atlanta. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 Investigators determined that Blake also had blunt-force injuries and signs of smothering. — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 And none of the many alternative remedies for treating lice – such as smothering them with mayonnaise or oil, dehydrating them with saline or hot air, or zapping them with an electronic comb – have proven to be effective. — Emily J. C. Wong, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 There’s the brutal heat; the skin destroying UV-rays of that miserable, scorching, eye-blinding sun; the constant allergy/sinusitis issues that NEVER let up; the smothering humidity. — R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026 There’s the brutal heat; the skin-destroying UV rays of that miserable, scorching, eye-blinding sun; the constant allergy/sinusitis issues that never let up; the smothering humidity. — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 The Minnesota defense stopped Love on a sneak, and from that point on, the defense was smothering, applying pressure at the perfect time. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026 Wildfires are ripping across parts of Indonesia, destroying precious peatland and smothering the country in a toxic smoke so thick, people are struggling to breathe. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothering
  1. suffocating
  2. strangling
  3. stifling
  4. burying
  5. oppressive
  6. choking
  7. suppressing
  8. overcoming
Adjective
  • Scientists suspect that the combination of high heat and a suffocating deep-tropical air mass will be considered the worst humidity the region has experienced in the modern era.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Eilish will play Greenwood, the brilliant young woman at the center of Plath’s semi-autobiographical story, which follows her descent into mental illness amid the suffocating expectations placed on women in 1950s America.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of suffocating
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
  • Trailing 10-3 at halftime, Clemson used a stifling defense to set up three third quarter scores — two coming on Nolan Hauser field goals and another on Reynolds' go-ahead touchdown run off a quarterback draw.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The midday heat is stifling, even more so for Eilyn Solano, who has been sheltering in a tent for over 100 days.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of stifling
Verb
  • Cedric Von Ferdinand, 34, is accused of killing Nadine Jett and burying her remains in her Oak Creek Road property, San Diego County Dist.
    — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Merced County Code does not explicitly state any countywide ordinance that prohibits burying a domestic pet on private property.
    — Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of burying
Adjective
  • The citizens group hoping to reform Connecticut’s oppressive property tax system will release its recommendations Monday, hoping to force candidates for state offices to take positions during the final push toward Election Day.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
  • If Chrissie represents someone who opts into the ruling system, Paul’s character shows that there are choices even within this world’s oppressive parameters.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of oppressive
Verb
  • And how about the Colts choking yesterday against the TITANS of all teams?
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Among those arrested were individuals accused of choking their partners and assaulting their children, the sheriff’s office said.
    — Tanya Babbar, Houston Chronicle, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of choking
Verb
  • After 20 years of suppressing his feelings, therapy helped Harry give himself permission to grieve and acknowledge his pain.
    — Esther Lian, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Embracing uncertainty does not mean ignoring danger, suppressing disappointment or insisting that every setback is positive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of suppressing
Verb
  • His early story is known as one of overcoming difficult circumstances and finding a creative outlet in music.
    — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The song addresses overcoming adversity and using others’ doubts to fuel your passion.
    — Melinda Newman, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of overcoming

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Cite this Entry

“Smothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothering. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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