suffocation

[ suhf-uh-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of killing by preventing air from getting to the blood through the lungs or gills; strangulation:

   A crushing neck injury resulted in the child’s suffocation.

2. difficulty breathing or inability to breathe, or any act that causes this:

   One protestor endured temporary suffocation from tear gas.

3. the act of making someone uncomfortable, or the fact of becoming uncomfortable, through lack of fresh air:

   Every noon, the market was crowded; but on Sundays, it was crowded to the point of suffocation.

4. the act or practice of thwarting someone’s self-expression, freedom, independence, etc.:

   Under the military regime there was so much suffocation of the media—they even burned down news offices.

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffocation¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin suffōcātiōn-, stem of suffōcātiō, “a choking, stifling”; suffocate ( def ), -ion ( def )

Example Sentences

When the news reached the family, it felt like “the suffocation of 56 years had suddenly evaporated”, Mr Thomas told BBC Hindi.

From BBC

An autopsy ruled that the boy died by suffocation, and numerous injuries, including rib fractures caused by “significant force” that were found on his small body.

From Los Angeles Times

In the moment, between darting thoughts of suffocation, I thought of the Astroworld crowd crush in 2021 that left 10 people dead and many more injured.

From Salon

Phosgene, more deadly than chlorine, was also an asphyxiant—it too caused death by suffocation.

From Literature

Another had pieces of a plastic bag on his neck, a possible sign of attempts at suffocation.

From Seattle Times