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suffocating

  • present participle
    of suffocate.
    suffocate
    verb (used with object)
    to kill by preventing the access of air to the blood through the lungs or analogous organs, as gills; strangle.
  • a word derived from suffocate.
    suffocate
    verb (used with object)
    to kill by preventing the access of air to the blood through the lungs or analogous organs, as gills; strangle.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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And maybe it was the focus-sapping heat, but USC’s defense wasn’t as stifling, not as suffocating it should have been against an opponent as hopelessly overmatched as San José State.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

The conception of the role, marked by a dim view of stardom’s suffocating alienation, was something Jolie clearly understood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

"We're suffocating in the streets, we're suffocating in the subway and we're even suffocating in our rental," he said, adding they would be moving to an air-conditioned hotel room.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

Alison Stewart said her train was "absolutely suffocating" without air-con during a heatwave in Boston.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

The wind blasted against the windows, making me aware of how suffocating it felt in the room.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu