stifling

[stahy-fling]

adjective

1. suffocating; oppressively close.

   the stifling atmosphere of the cavern.

stifling

/ ˈstaɪflɪŋ /

adjective

1. oppressively hot or stuffy

   a stifling atmosphere

Other Word Forms

• stiflingly adverb
• unstifling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stifling¹

First recorded in 1550–60; stifle ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

And so, year after year, through stifling hot summers and snow-dusted winters, people have been camping out in Berry Creek.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet there are some who wonder if E. coli's dominance might be stifling us from finding the very best biotech solutions for our problems.

From BBC

Some stores even staged walkouts, citing the dress code change as the last straw in a slew of new policies Starbucks that employees say are stifling and damaging their ability to properly do their jobs.

From Salon

The opening days of the championships were dominated by discussion around the conditions the athletes had to contend with - particularly in the endurance events - as temperatures exceeding 30C were accompanied by stifling humidity above 90%.

From BBC

Despite the program’s simplicity, fire experts say this system might be one of our best shots at stifling coastal California’s wildfire problem.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fetid 
• humid 
• muggy 
• stuffy 
• suffocating www.thesaurus.com
• sultry