stifle

¹ American  

[stahy-fuhl] / ˈstaɪ fəl /

verb (used with object)

stifled, stifling

1. to quell, crush, or end by force: to stifle free expression.

   to stifle a revolt;

   to stifle free expression.

   Synonyms:

   put down, preclude, prevent, prevent

   Antonyms:

   encourage

2. to suppress, curb, or withhold.

   to stifle a yawn.

   Synonyms:

   check

   Antonyms:

   encourage

3. to kill by impeding respiration; smother.

   Synonyms:

   choke, strangle, suffocate

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verb (used without object)

stifled, stifling

1. to suffer from difficulty in breathing, as in a close atmosphere.

2. to become stifled or suffocated.

stifle ² American  

[stahy-fuhl] / ˈstaɪ fəl /

noun

1. (in a horse or other quadruped) the joint between the femur and the tibia, corresponding anatomically to the human knee.

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stifle ¹ British  

/ ˈstaɪfəl /

verb

1. (tr) to smother or suppress

   stifle a cough

2. to feel or cause to feel discomfort and difficulty in breathing

3. to prevent or be prevented from breathing so as to cause death

4. (tr) to crush or stamp out

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stifle ² British  

/ ˈstaɪfəl /

noun

1. the joint in the hind leg of a horse, dog, etc, between the femur and tibia

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Other Word Forms

• stifler noun

Etymology

Origin of stifle¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English from Old Norse stīfla “to stop up, dam,” akin to stīfr “stiff”

Origin of stifle²

1275–1325; Middle English < ?

Example Sentences

But critics, including hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers who have since left, say dissent has been stifled, and the city's freedoms severely curbed.

From BBC

The sharp contraction stifled hopes of a coming recovery and built pressure on the central bank to keep slashing interest rates.

From The Wall Street Journal

A man desperately searching for a handkerchief while trying to stifle a sneeze, the world’s oldest magician making a comeback — these hilarious bits require no context.

From Los Angeles Times

The General Court overturned the initial fine in 2022, saying antitrust officials’ analysis of the case was incomplete and didn’t prove the rebates could stifle competition.

From The Wall Street Journal

I started to slide my fingers under my leg to stifle the need to tap—but then just let the tapping happen, as Dr. Cain is well aware of it.

From Literature

Related Words

• curb
• muzzle
• repress
• silence
• smother
• squelch
• strangle
• suffocate
• suppress