SMOTHERING Synonyms: 200 Similar and Opposite Words

smothering 1 of 2

adjective

as in suffocating

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Dissimilar Words

smothering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of smother

as in strangling

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stifling

to refrain from openly showing or uttering he quickly smothered his inappropriate laughter at the funeral ceremony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in burying

to defeat by a large margin the soccer team smothered their first few opponents in the championships, but lost narrowly in the final round

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of smothering

Verb

The scrutiny at the club is like no other, the media attention can be smothering and the level expected from fans is so high. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 This is typically done with a sod cutter, by smothering with cardboard or plastic, or with a nonselective herbicide. — Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 21 Aug. 2026 In June, he is accused of smothering a 1-month-old kitten with a rag soaked in bleach. — Steven Yablonski, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 Forest fires on Sumatra and Borneo islands often break out during dry spells, smothering parts of nearby Singapore and Malaysia in haze. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 Rodri, Spain’s captain and the anchor of the team’s smothering defense during its unbeaten World Cup run, won the Golden Ball award as the outstanding player of the tournament. — Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 Argentina battled Spain’s smothering defense, but Messi was limited to just 15 touches during the first half, according to ESPN. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 The wildfires have also generated smothering smoke clouds across Canadian and US cities while inflicting hazardous air pollution upon more than 100 million people. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026 Until that breathtaking final 15 minutes, Egypt largely nullified this strategy by packing the centre themselves and smothering those central spaces. — Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smothering

Adjective

The Valkyries won their third straight game, defeating the Sparks 78-58 behind a suffocating defensive performance.

— Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
The Fleet played a suffocating style of hockey, with a strong forecheck and the ability to wear down opponents with relentless offensive-zone pressure.

— Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Definition of suffocating

Verb

Prosecutors allege Clancy planned the killings by sending her husband to pick up takeout food and medicine, then, while he was gone, strangling the children with exercise bands.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Prosecutors say the killings were deliberate, arguing that Clancy sent her husband out on errands before strangling the children and then attempting suicide.

— Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of strangling

Verb

Mostly sunny skies are then expected through the work week, with stifling temperatures by mid-week, the forecast shows.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
Several horses collapsed from heat exhaustion after competing in stifling heat in the middle of the day during the cross-country phase of the eventing.

— Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of stifling

Verb

In one southern Nepali district — Chitwan — authorities will resort to burying hundreds of unidentified bodies in a mass grave, local police told CNN.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
The flooding inundated areas along the Trishuli River, burying some buildings and damaging bridges and roadways.

— Jon Haworth, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of burying

Adjective

Among those waiting to meet the president was Leon Czolgosz, a 28-year-old anarchist who considered the government oppressive.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
People seem to be craving the scent of something cooling and quenching, an olfactive promise that less oppressive weather lies ahead.

— April Long, Allure, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of oppressive

Verb

Many cope by masking or camouflaging — suppressing autistic traits in order to fit in.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
However, moderate levels enable the locus coeruleus to emphasize task-relevant information while suppressing background noise.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of suppressing

Verb

Curaçao went unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament before overcoming an early two-run deficit to the team from Henderson, Nevada.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Instead of focusing on adventurous missions like PAW Patrol, Super Monsters emphasizes the more emotional aspects of childhood, like overcoming shyness, being a good friend, and learning from your mistakes.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of overcoming

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“Smothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smothering. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of smothering

adjective

verb

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