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
But there were no such concerns Saturday, as USC was stifling from the start, successfully fronting the post and clamping down on the interior.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 1, 2025
The phenomenon was stifling innovation and disallowing entry of start-ups and other domestic entrants in key industries, he said.
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2023
The air was stifling, with no hint of breeze.
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
