smother

[ smuhth-er ]

/ ˈsmʌð ər /

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See synonyms for: smother / smothered / smothering on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to stifle or suffocate, as by smoke or other means of preventing free breathing.

to extinguish or deaden (fire, coals, etc.) by covering so as to exclude air.

to cover closely or thickly; envelop: to smother a steak with mushrooms.

to suppress or repress: to smother feelings.

Cooking. to steam (food) slowly in a heavy, tightly closed vessel with a minimum of liquid: smothered chicken and onions.

verb (used without object)

to become stifled or suffocated; be prevented from breathing.

to be stifled; be suppressed or concealed.

noun

dense, stifling smoke.

a smoking or smoldering state, as of burning matter.

dust, fog, spray, etc., in a dense or enveloping cloud.

an overspreading profusion of anything: a smother of papers.

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Origin of smother

1125–75; (noun) Middle English smorther dense smoke; akin to Old English smorian to suffocate; (v.) Middle English smo(r)theren, derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM smother

smoth·er·a·ble, adjectivehalf-smothered, adjectiveun·smoth·er·a·ble, adjectiveun·smoth·ered, adjective

un·smoth·er·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use smother in a sentence

Then we have to suffer through the Chief smothering him with a pillow.
Amy Poehler Picks Her Favorite Sad Films|Amy Poehler|January 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Another top contender in the Oscar race is Barbara Hershey, as the smothering mother of fragile Natalie Portman in Black Swan.
Hollywood's Bad Mother Obsession|Stephen Farber|December 29, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Face Sitting Yes, Virginia, there are those who desire a big juicy ass smothering their air intake.
Eight Strange Sex Fetishes|Aurora Snow|December 16, 2010|DAILY BEAST
We see corruption smothering entrepreneurship and good governance.
Bill Clinton's Rwanda Guilt|Dana Goldstein|September 23, 2010|DAILY BEAST

“Etouffée” means smothered, which is how this dish should be served: smothering the rice underneath it.
What to Eat: Mardi Gras|Cookstr.com|February 16, 2010|DAILY BEAST
At last the lad, only half smothering a heavy sigh, buried his face in his hands and remained in this attitude several moments.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence|Eugne Sue
Mars collapsed to the ground, smothering small fires beneath his bulk.
Pagan Passions|Gordon Randall Garrett
He slept in the woods, freezing by the lonely campfire, or sweltering in the smothering heat of the summer sun.
The Phantom of the River|Edward S. Ellis
Smothering hydrophobic patients is still spoken of in Somerset as so practised.
Notes and Queries, Number 241, June 10, 1854|Various
His eyes closed, and the man who was smothering him with his weight arose to defend himself against an unexpected attack.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar|Maurice Leblanc

British Dictionary definitions for smother

smother

/ (ˈsmʌðə) /

verb

to suffocate or stifle by cutting off or being cut off from the air

(tr) to surround (with) or envelop (in)he smothered her with love

(tr) to extinguish (a fire) by covering so as to cut it off from the air

to be or cause to be suppressed or stifledsmother a giggle

(tr) to cook or serve (food) thickly covered with sauce, etc

noun

anything, such as a cloud of smoke, that stifles

a profusion or turmoil

archaic a state of smouldering or a smouldering fire

Derived forms of smother

smothery, adjective

Word Origin for smother

Old English smorian to suffocate; related to Middle Low German smōren

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

smother

Origin of smother

OTHER WORDS FROM smother

Words related to smother

How to use smother in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for smother

Derived forms of smother

Word Origin for smother