stifle
verb (used with object)
to quell, crush, or end by force: to stifle free expression.
was stifling
-
past progressiveof stifle.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
In 2023, Kenya introduced a moratorium on new developments in the Maasai Mara game reserve in response to concerns that poorly regulated tourism development was stifling the migration and ecosystem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025
Given the outsize economic and regulatory influence of the U.S. on the global stage, they thought this hostility was stifling the industry’s development.
From Barron's ● Nov. 19, 2025
Before taking over, he had heaped criticism on his predecessors’ approach to content moderation, casting them as a pro-censorship regime that was stifling free speech.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 16, 2023
He dismissed suggestions his government was stifling free speech, stressing that his nation, formed in 1971 after a war with Pakistan, was founded "to uphold democracy, human rights, and justice".
From BBC ● Dec. 9, 2022
The room was stifling with a weird tension, this strange sadness, when finally Shannon spoke up.
From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds
