1
as in strangles
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
children should never play inside discarded appliances because they could become trapped and smother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifles
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
he quickly smothered his inappropriate laughter at the funeral ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in buries
to defeat by a large margin
the soccer team smothered their first few opponents in the championships, but lost narrowly in the final round
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smothers
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
The pieces knit together to form a cast iron surface that sheds water, smothers weeds and holds up for a long time.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
On the latter, Bollywood royalty Asha Bhosle, 92, sings in Hindi of setting sail to the other side, but Albarn smothers her beneath heraldic bursts of Disneyfied psych-pop.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
South Grand Prairie smothers Richardson to move on South Grand Prairie got 19 points from Janae Johnson to lead the Warriors to a 41-26 drubbing of Richardson in a Class 6A Division I bi-district game on Monday.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Feb. 2026
The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
At Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, Mediterranean scrub smothers steep hillsides that edge abruptly to meet a surreal, gin-clear water.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Complexity smothers everything, like Japanese knotweed.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 Dec. 2025
Prior to his own arrest and incarceration, Rick then smothers Martin to death in the hospital to spare him from witnessing the downfall of his son and destruction of his legacy.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 13 Nov. 2025
Verb
Once in flowerbeds and vegetable gardens, the plant depletes potassium necessary for plant health and smothers low-growing plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
The pieces knit together to form a cast iron surface that sheds water, smothers weeds and holds up for a long time.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
On the latter, Bollywood royalty Asha Bhosle, 92, sings in Hindi of setting sail to the other side, but Albarn smothers her beneath heraldic bursts of Disneyfied psych-pop.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
South Grand Prairie smothers Richardson to move on South Grand Prairie got 19 points from Janae Johnson to lead the Warriors to a 41-26 drubbing of Richardson in a Class 6A Division I bi-district game on Monday.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Feb. 2026
The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
At Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, Mediterranean scrub smothers steep hillsides that edge abruptly to meet a surreal, gin-clear water.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Complexity smothers everything, like Japanese knotweed.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 Dec. 2025
Prior to his own arrest and incarceration, Rick then smothers Martin to death in the hospital to spare him from witnessing the downfall of his son and destruction of his legacy.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothers
Verb
-
Ground cover plants around trees can lead to root girdling—where the cover essentially strangles the tree, threatening its health.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
-
As Iran strangles the Strait of Hormuz, countries have scrambled for alternative routes.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Conversely, destructive energy hinders performance, breeds resentment, and stifles innovation.—
Rebecca Ahmed,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Overregulation stifles business, regardless of industry.—
John Cleveland,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The story switches between the present day and 1990s Camden, at the height of Cool Britannia and begins in the sweltering summer of 1995 as a man buries a body during a violent storm.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
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The Placer County Water Agency has mapped out $295 million in projects that will upgrade infrastructure, such as rebuilding plants and rehabbing buries pipes, from the foothills to the freeway.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the second season, a patient under the influence wraps his arm around a young nurse’s neck and chokes her until the charge nurse intervenes.—
Jennifer Obel,
Twin Cities,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Jasmine almost chokes on her corn dog when that comes out of Janet’s mouth.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mulch helps soil retain moisture, suppresses weed growth, and protects roots from temperature fluctuations.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Mulch helps retain soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature, says Putnam.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This proprietary approach overcomes challenges of surface treatment and dispersion associated with the material.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Apr. 2026
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Leo consistently overcomes challenges such as low light, rapid movement, and split second moments to produce sharp, compelling images.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Constantly soggy soil suffocates roots and invites rot — the plant equivalent of trench foot.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
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Most beginners assume more water equals healthier plants, but constantly soggy soil suffocates roots and triggers rot.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Once the python swallows the tracker, biologists can track the dangerous python.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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Scientists discovered that when a python swallows a collared opossum whole, the GPS device keeps transmitting from inside the snake.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smothers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothers. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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