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.
have suffocated
-
present perfectof suffocate.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
It was a game New England nearly blew but didn’t; it was a potential loss that could have suffocated playoff hopes, but the Patriots completed the job.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
When the man was determined to have suffocated from gas and his body pulled out by a rope, Bonnag decided "no, I can't continue like this".
From Barron's ● Jan. 15, 2026
A teenager was "extremely lucky" not to have suffocated after being buried seven-feet deep in sand, the coastguard has said.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2025
Bradford's biological daughter asked if Jayden could have suffocated.
From Salon ● Nov. 22, 2022
"Is this some sort of prank? I could have suffocated in there!"
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
