1
as in to strangle
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
unfortunately, the robbers were stifled when they got trapped in the airless bank vault
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to suppress
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
stifled a yawn
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stifle
Flowers also discussed Caribbean perspectives, noting how creativity was often stifled in favor of conformity.
—
Larry Stansbury, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
Then Denver figured out Tennessee had no other ground-game threats and little offensive ingenuity, and stifled him in the second half.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
The decision would have major consequences for voters in Kansas City and across Missouri, effectively stifling the ability for citizens to pass constitutional amendments at the ballot box.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
Lately, however, that search for control has become overly cautious, stifling attacking adventure.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Larry Stansbury, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
Then Denver figured out Tennessee had no other ground-game threats and little offensive ingenuity, and stifled him in the second half.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
The decision would have major consequences for voters in Kansas City and across Missouri, effectively stifling the ability for citizens to pass constitutional amendments at the ballot box.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
Lately, however, that search for control has become overly cautious, stifling attacking adventure.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifle
Verb
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Miner was tied up, beaten, strangled and stabbed.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
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Even the most strident neighborhood defenders agree that California is being strangled by a severe housing crisis.—
Stan Oklobdzija,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The upconversion process also suppressed noise, which made the setup effective even under very dim light.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
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Critics of the visas, including many American technology workers, argue companies use H-1B visa workers to suppress wages and pass over Americans for jobs.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Robbie hoped their full mouths muffled the sound.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
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Money floods into affected districts, muffling outrage precisely when constituents are most enraged.—
John J. Donohue,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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To avoid choking hazards, the researchers recommend pureeing blueberries for younger infants and mashing or cutting them into small pieces for older babies and toddlers.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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That December, Cilivea Thyrion, 20, choked to death on an adult diaper while housed in a special needs pod.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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During the trials, some participants experienced nausea and an upset stomach, but investigators found that dividing up the pills, instead of taking all four at once, and swallowing them with orange juice instead of water, helped relieve the symptoms.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Typical triggers are swallowing cooler air when chewing gum and smoking.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Both of the Ichabods’ touchdowns in this game came on screen passes, which was easily the most effective way Washburn attacked an otherwise smothering defense.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
14 Sep. 2025
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From start to finish, Colleyville seemed to smother The Colony, on both sides of the ball.—
Chris Winters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But outside of the ring, Christy hides and represses her lesbianism and winds up marrying her trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster), who manipulates and physically abuses her.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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This is welcome news for a system plagued by various exogenous shocks — including COVID and related frothy valuations, high interest rates and the 2022 market correction, the US electoral cycle, and tariff uncertainty — that have resulted in wide bid-ask spreads repressing deal activity.—
Control Risks,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The heat this year lasted for long, suffocating stretches.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
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Some seventeen hundred people suffocated, along with more than three thousand livestock.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifle. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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