stifle

verb

ˈstī-fəl How to pronounce stifle (audio)
Definition of stiflenext
1
as in to strangle
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air unfortunately, the robbers were stifled when they got trapped in the airless bank vault

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to suppress
to refrain from openly showing or uttering stifled a yawn

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to muffle
to deaden the sound of he stifled a cough with his hand

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 stifle This debate has been fiercely stifled by current politicians, including Sanae Takaichi—who is, ironically, the first female prime minister in Japanese history. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026 The altitude also plays into the Broncos’ advantage as their defense stifles De’Von Achane and company. — Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 Opponents, however, view this as unnecessary governmental overreach that could stifle rapid AI advancement. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The verdict against Lev Shlosberg, a senior member of the Yabloko party, was another step by the Kremlin to stifle dissent since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022. — CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifle
  1. strangle
  2. suppress
  3. muffle
  4. choke
  5. swallow
  6. smother
  7. repress
  8. suffocate
Verb
  • Prosecutors allege Clancy planned the killings by sending her husband to pick up takeout food and medicine, then, while he was gone, strangled the children with exercise bands.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Her body was discovered by children and had stab wounds, severe head injuries and injuries consistent with strangling.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of strangle
Verb
  • This isn’t a matter of suppressing your emotions, which research has proven doesn't work.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In one of the findings, bat houses — artificial roosts in urban environments, similar to nest boxes for birds — were doing their job helping to suppress pests on pecan farms in Texas.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of suppress
Verb
  • Polite, slightly puzzling debates over the merits of using concrete in Africa muffle the period’s scalding passions and incandescent dreams.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The actress wears a toasty-looking fur hat and sits cross-legged on the floor, the Canadian road traffic muffling her voice slightly.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of muffle
Verb
  • Almost constant air raids in Kyiv have now reached their third day, choking the economy in the Ukrainian capital and severely disrupting civilian life more than 4½ years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Both victims were illegally choked to death by white police officers.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of choke
Verb
  • Officials added that people cannot become infected with Naegleria fowleri by swallowing contaminated water; however, the amoeba can enter the body when it is forcefully introduced, such as through the nose into the brain.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Brushing against a lily can leave pollen on its coat, which the cat may later swallow while grooming.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of swallow
Verb
  • One jumper is famous for having smothered miles of flames with his jacket; in Alaska, jumpers have used spruce boughs and burlap bags filled with moss.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Both experts agree that a thick layer of top dressing can actually smother your grass.
    — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of smother
Verb
  • Tottenham, repressed for so long in their spending and ambition, are suddenly flashing the cash like a slot machine, dropping £237million ($324m) already.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • And Washington’s campaign against terrorism encouraged its allies to embrace intrusive forms of surveillance and repress potential opposition in the name of security.
    — MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of repress
Verb
  • That’s what happened here as our little record store was basically being suffocated in its own little nerdism.
    — E.R. Pulgar, SPIN, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Amazon also faces another sweeping lawsuit by the FTC and 17 states that paints the company as a monopolist that suffocates competitors and raises costs for both sellers and shoppers.
    — Alina Selyukh, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of suffocate

Browse Nearby Words

stiffs
stifle
stifled
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Cite this Entry

“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifle. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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