suffocate

[ suhf-uh-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, suf·fo·cat·ed, suf·fo·cat·ing.

1. to kill by preventing the access of air to the blood through the lungs or analogous organs, as gills; strangle.
2. to impede the respiration of.
3. to discomfort by a lack of fresh or cool air.
4. to overcome or extinguish; suppress.

verb (used without object)

, suf·fo·cat·ed, suf·fo·cat·ing.

1. to become suffocated; stifle; smother.
2. to be uncomfortable due to a lack of fresh or cool air.

suffocate

/ ˈsʌfəˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to kill or be killed by the deprivation of oxygen, as by obstruction of the air passage or inhalation of noxious gases
2. to block the air passages or have the air passages blocked
3. to feel or cause to feel discomfort from heat and lack of air

Derived Forms

• ˌsuffoˈcation, noun
• ˈsuffoˌcating, adjective
• ˈsuffoˌcatingly, adverb
• ˈsuffoˌcative, adjective

Other Words From

• suf·fo·cat·ing·ly adverb
• suf·fo·ca·tion [suhf-, uh, -, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
• suf·fo·ca·tive adjective
• un·suf·fo·cat·ed adjective
• un·suf·fo·ca·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffocate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin suffōcātus (past participle of suffōcāre “to choke, stifle”), equivalent to suf- suf- + -fōc- (combining form of fauc-, stem of faucēs “throat”) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffocate¹

C16: from Latin suffōcāre, from sub- + faucēs throat

Example Sentences

I’m like, “Well, at least they suffocate their victims. At least it’s not going to rip me apart like a wolf does — because that’s awful. Well, at least that.”

From Los Angeles Times

“The smoke was really thick. Everyone started to cough and suffocate. People start to fall and faint,” recalls Sharon.

From BBC

“When you deny someone oxygen, they suffocate.”

From Los Angeles Times

Dredging up the nodules generates clouds of metallic dust on the seafloor that suffocate organisms there.

From Salon

“They cannot operate and cut out the marble in my chest that is laying on my windpipe, and eventually would suffocate me to death,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• asphyxiate
• drown
• smother
• stifle
• strangle