stifle

¹

[stahy-fuhl]

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

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

[stahy-fuhl]

noun

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

stifle

¹

/ 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

stifle

²

/ ˈstaɪfəl /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• stifler noun

Word History and Origins

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 < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of stifle¹

C14: variant of stuflen, probably from Old French estouffer to smother

Origin of stifle²

C14: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Though the Supreme Court has upheld limits on the size of contributions, government doesn’t have carte blanche to stifle political donations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I imagined years of stifled conflict before my three children all graduated from high school.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Critics say that these rules stifle freedom of expression and civil activism.

Read more on BBC

Bolivia has the world’s largest lithium deposits, which have been left untapped because of tight state control that has stifled investments.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The current view in Washington is that under Biden, regulators stifled innovation and growth, drove an exciting new industry abroad and deprived ordinary Americans of new ways to build wealth.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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