stifling 1 of 2

adjective

as in close
lacking fresh air the lecture hall was stifling until we opened several windows

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stifling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stifle
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

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2
as in suppressing
to refrain from openly showing or uttering stifled a yawn

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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

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 stifling
Adjective
For all the deserved talk about the Knicks’ dynamic offense, the defense has been far more stifling than their reputation suggests. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 15 May 2026 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
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 Employees hide saved time to avoid more work or scrutiny, stifling innovation. — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The wrong answer could spiral them toward yesteryear, stifling the buzz Sumrall’s created. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026 Elisabeth Wright Burak, a policy researcher at Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, said Trump’s tax-and-spending law is stifling the momentum states had been gaining with maternal care since 2022. — Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 Officials had to choose between keeping schools open and sending children to equally stifling apartments. — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Some, like teasel and buckthorn, are absolutely devastating to our native ecosystems, stifling the growth of plants needed for native creatures to thrive. — Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026 Playing in the final group in stifling heat and the most wind all week, Scheffler matched the best score Sunday. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stifling
  1. close
  2. strangling
  3. suppressing
  4. muffling
  5. suffocating
  6. choking
  7. swallowing
  8. stuffy
Adjective
  • California Cruise is even closer than expected, with deliveries slated to begin next year.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The success of this trial was possible through the close and constructive cooperation between the participating German Air Force organisations, the exercise management team and the expert teams from Rheinmetall Air Defence and Hensoldt.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of close
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
  • 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
  • Patmos would divide the open warehouse space into smaller rooms, add pipes and support infrastructure and install sound-muffling materials.
    — Ilana Arougheti June 26, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026
  • The sound-muffling fabrics, carpets, ceiling tiles, tablecloths and rugs that used to decorate restaurants are deemed too stuffy these days, and even upholstered booths are being replaced by more barebones tables — and lots of them, close together.
    — Allyson Reedy, Denver Post, 13 May 2026
Definition of muffling
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
  • The man in black is wracked and choking, mangling the words, eyes dripping.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, rope toys can cause a choking hazard or even lacerate your dog’s digestive tract.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of choking
Verb
  • Popular media and Southern folklore frequently claimed that kudzu was swallowing 150,000 new acres every year and had overtaken anywhere from 7 to 9 million acres across the region.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The cause of the powerful torrents of floodwater that carved a devastating path through Nepal and Tibet — swallowing towns, roads and bridges — is not yet clear, but Nepal is a hotspot for climate disasters as the planet heats up.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of swallowing
Adjective
  • Good Good is a group of young golfers who play out their lighter-hearted version of the traditionally stuffy sport to millions of YouTube views.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
  • However, during the fall and spring months, when the temperature inside the home is already comfortable, the air can get stuffy, especially if the windows have been closed due to rain, strong winds, or other unpleasant weather.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of stuffy

Browse Nearby Words

stifles
stifling
stigma
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Cite this Entry

“Stifling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stifling. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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