smoth·er
ˈsmə-t͟hər 
smothered; smothering
ˈsmə-t͟hə-riŋ
ˈsmət͟h-riŋ
1
a
: to kill by depriving of air
b
: to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen
c
: to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of air
2
3
: to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes
4
: to cook in a covered pan or pot with little liquid over low heat
: to be overcome or killed through or as if through lack of air
1
a
: thick stifling smoke or smudge
b
: a state of being stifled or suppressed
2
: a dense cloud (as of fog or dust)
3
: a confused multitude of things : welter
Examples of smother in a Sentence
Verb
He tried to smother her with a pillow.
She smothered the fire with a blanket.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2025
The English side came close to equalising either side of half-time when first Alessia Russo headed a Katie McCabe free kick against the crossbar before the break, and then after it, Caitlin Foord had a shot smothered by Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler.
—Asif Burhan, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
IEEE Spectrum, 24 June 2011
Two minutes in and Zidane looped a cross to Ronaldo — unmarked — but Lehmann was able to smother.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smother
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Verb
Golden State won the regular-season series 3-2, but the Rockets smothered Curry and the Warriors 106-96 in the last matchup of the season.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2025
The English side came close to equalising either side of half-time when first Alessia Russo headed a Katie McCabe free kick against the crossbar before the break, and then after it, Caitlin Foord had a shot smothered by Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler.
—Asif Burhan, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
Fears of irradiation from antennas threaten to smother smart meters in the crib
G. Pascal Zachary
24 Jun 2011
6 min read
G. Pascal Zachary researches and writes about the past, present, and future of technological change.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 June 2011
Two minutes in and Zidane looped a cross to Ronaldo — unmarked — but Lehmann was able to smother.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smother
Cite this Entry
“Smother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smother. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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