suffocate

[ suhf-uh-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, suf·fo·cat·ed, suf·fo·cat·ing.

1. to kill by preventing the access of air to the blood through the lungs or analogous organs, as gills; strangle.
2. to impede the respiration of.
3. to discomfort by a lack of fresh or cool air.
4. to overcome or extinguish; suppress.

verb (used without object)

, suf·fo·cat·ed, suf·fo·cat·ing.

1. to become suffocated; stifle; smother.
2. to be uncomfortable due to a lack of fresh or cool air.

suffocate

/ ˈsʌfəˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to kill or be killed by the deprivation of oxygen, as by obstruction of the air passage or inhalation of noxious gases
2. to block the air passages or have the air passages blocked
3. to feel or cause to feel discomfort from heat and lack of air

Derived Forms

• ˌsuffoˈcation, noun
• ˈsuffoˌcating, adjective
• ˈsuffoˌcatingly, adverb
• ˈsuffoˌcative, adjective

Other Words From

• suf·fo·cat·ing·ly adverb
• suf·fo·ca·tion [suhf-, uh, -, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
• suf·fo·ca·tive adjective
• un·suf·fo·cat·ed adjective
• un·suf·fo·ca·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffocate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin suffōcātus (past participle of suffōcāre “to choke, stifle”), equivalent to suf- suf- + -fōc- (combining form of fauc-, stem of faucēs “throat”) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffocate¹

C16: from Latin suffōcāre, from sub- + faucēs throat

Example Sentences

I went there the day after the election when I was feeling suffocated by politics, the news, doom scrolling, social media and everything.

From Los Angeles Times

A nice enough idea, sure, but one that began to feel suffocating in its endless repetitions and increasingly strange associations.

From Salon

“To assume that simply having a child obligates people to marry and take on the duties of cohabitation and mutual support feels suffocating,” Lee wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

From BBC

He still talks about Barcelona as "his club" but he found the pressure suffocating and quit after four seasons.

From BBC

But they kept the faith, kept flying up in defence and, a year later, stepped up to lift the Rugby World Cup, having suffocated their way to the title.

From BBC

Related Words

• asphyxiate
• drown
• smother
• stifle
• strangle