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

He still talks about Barcelona as "his club" but he found the pressure suffocating and quit after four seasons.

From BBC

But they kept the faith, kept flying up in defence and, a year later, stepped up to lift the Rugby World Cup, having suffocated their way to the title.

From BBC

The score was tied 3-3 after the first quarter, but the Cavaliers’ suffocating defense began to take hold in the second quarter as Cleveland scored three times to take a 6-2 lead into halftime.

From Los Angeles Times

Both Musk and Trump have concentrated on the idea of him leading a new "Department of Government Efficiency", where he would cut costs, reform regulations and streamline what he calls a "massive, suffocating federal bureaucracy".

From BBC

After letting Chattanooga hang around for most of the first half, USC fully clamped down in the second, suffocating the Mocs with their length.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• asphyxiate
• drown
• smother
• stifle
• strangle