as in strangled
to cause (someone) to stop breathing and often to become unconscious and die
The murder victim was asphyxiated.
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Recent Examples of asphyxiated
The petition, which was granted by a federal judge, cites reports alleging that guards at the facility choked and asphyxiated Campos.
—
Laura Romero, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
The vocals mutate like asphyxiated Wingdings and aborted thoughts.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Dec. 2025
Teddy is found, bound and asphyxiated, in Cooper’s bedroom, which Aggie cannot bear to enter.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
She had been asphyxiated and then mutilated after her death.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
In Oregon in February 2023, a 23-month-old child was asphyxiated after his shirt got caught on one of the hooks while climbing and crawling through the opening at the back of the play kitchen where the toy kitchen accessories are held, per the CPSC.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 5 Aug. 2025
Laura Romero, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
The vocals mutate like asphyxiated Wingdings and aborted thoughts.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Dec. 2025
Teddy is found, bound and asphyxiated, in Cooper’s bedroom, which Aggie cannot bear to enter.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
She had been asphyxiated and then mutilated after her death.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
In Oregon in February 2023, a 23-month-old child was asphyxiated after his shirt got caught on one of the hooks while climbing and crawling through the opening at the back of the play kitchen where the toy kitchen accessories are held, per the CPSC.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asphyxiated
Verb
-
Shirley allegedly admitted to entering the home, but said his friend was the one who strangled the girl, according to court documents.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
March 17,
Kansas City Star,
17 Mar. 2026
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As the war has strangled the strait, freight rates for American LNG have quadrupled, and the Asian market has become a new center of gravity for the fuel as Asian countries scramble for new energy sources.—
Elizabeth González,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Veronica Gutierrez brought her husband, her sister and her mother for support, but when grainy security footage began to play during the prosecutor’s opening statement Monday, their sobs drowned out his voice.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Sometimes the most beautiful notes are drowned out.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiated. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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