as in close
lacking fresh air
the lecture hall was stifling until we opened several windows
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in strangling
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in suppressing
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
stifled a yawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in muffling
to deaden the sound of
he stifled a cough with his hand
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stifling
Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Rudy Gobert followed his inspired Game 2 effort against Nikola Jokic by stifling the three-time MVP again on an ugly 7-for-26 shooting night, and the Timberwolves established a postseason franchise record by allowing the Nuggets just 11 points in the tone-setting first quarter.
—CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
March home sales in Ada County were up nearly 20% from a year ago as rebounding interest in Idaho overcame stifling interest rates that had constrained Treasure Valley homes.
—Mark Dee
april 21, Idaho Statesman, 21 Apr. 2026
The defense is historically stifling.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
The bill, which passed with another similar piece of legislation aimed at limiting protests around houses of worship, has drawn concerns about stifling free speech rights, especially for pro-Palestine protests.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Seller fees are part of the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, filed in September 2023 and scheduled for trial in 2027, which accuses the company of using anticompetitive tactics to maintain its e-commerce dominance, as well as stifling merchants on its marketplace.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
The order also states that the government may suspend or ban state contracts with AI companies that violate existing civil liberties, such as stifling freedom of speech or engaging in surveillance.
—Richard Sill, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
The Gamecocks played stifling defense to knock off UConn 62-48 and end the defending champion Huskies’ 54-game winning streak in the Final Four on Friday night.
—Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Her mother, who had a staid upbringing in California, came to New York in the early sixties looking for someplace more diverse and less stifling.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
While some can be overbearingly hot, the hammam here is kept at the perfect temperature with just the right amount of steam, never stifling or claustrophobic.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Rudy Gobert followed his inspired Game 2 effort against Nikola Jokic by stifling the three-time MVP again on an ugly 7-for-26 shooting night, and the Timberwolves established a postseason franchise record by allowing the Nuggets just 11 points in the tone-setting first quarter.
—CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
March home sales in Ada County were up nearly 20% from a year ago as rebounding interest in Idaho overcame stifling interest rates that had constrained Treasure Valley homes.
—Mark Dee
april 21, Idaho Statesman, 21 Apr. 2026
The defense is historically stifling.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
The bill, which passed with another similar piece of legislation aimed at limiting protests around houses of worship, has drawn concerns about stifling free speech rights, especially for pro-Palestine protests.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Seller fees are part of the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, filed in September 2023 and scheduled for trial in 2027, which accuses the company of using anticompetitive tactics to maintain its e-commerce dominance, as well as stifling merchants on its marketplace.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
The order also states that the government may suspend or ban state contracts with AI companies that violate existing civil liberties, such as stifling freedom of speech or engaging in surveillance.
—Richard Sill, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
The Gamecocks played stifling defense to knock off UConn 62-48 and end the defending champion Huskies’ 54-game winning streak in the Final Four on Friday night.
—Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifling
Adjective
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Because the Celtics, provided they close-out the 76ers, have the kind of shooters the Hawks don’t.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Qatar could deepen its already close defense ties to Turkey, and China, which is close to Iran, could play a greater diplomatic role.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Horner told a false story about hitting the little girl with his van and then strangling her in a panic, according to testimony of the case’s lead investigator, Texas Ranger Job Espinoza.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
-
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that the blockade was strangling Iran’s economy.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The drug has already taught the field that powerfully suppressing this key cancer driver actually works.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
By suppressing appetite, the body can direct more energy toward the immune response.—
Jasna Hodžić,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Acidification reduces the pH of seawater, which also diminishes sound absorption, so the stain of ship’s engine noise spreads further, muffling the songs of humpbacks and the codas of sperm whales.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
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The timeless linen is backed with a white blackout liner to block out as much light as possible without adding unnecessary bulk to your window frames while muffling the sound from your street.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Georgia will surely be ready and focused on its home floor following two consecutive losses, but Bucky Ball and its suffocating style from a fresh A&M team will be too much for the Bulldogs.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
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Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Darnold, Mike Macdonald and a suffocating defense have led the Seahawks to the big stage for the fourth time in franchise history.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Jurors then heard sounds of banging and choking — and Athena screaming and crying, the Star-Telegram reports.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
-
How about allegedly choking a live-in chef?—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Almost fittingly, when Shula died at age 90 on May 20, 2020, Covid had just started to rage, the budding pandemic swallowing everything.—
Greg Cote
April 28,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
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His older son has an immune disease called eosinophilic esophagitis, where white blood cells gather in the esophagus and cause issues with swallowing and breathing.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The lightweight jersey keeps you cool in stuffy cabins and crowded trains, while built‑in stretch maintains a smooth shape after hours of wear.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Apr. 2026
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The collared button-down paired with matching shorts strikes the right balance between polished and relaxed, without feeling stuffy.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stifling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifling. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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