suffocate
verb (used with object)
to kill by preventing the access of air to the blood through the lungs or analogous organs, as gills; strangle.
were suffocating
-
past progressiveof suffocate.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.
“We didn’t do a good job of keeping the quarterback in the pocket. We were suffocating ‘em.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2023
Two hours later, I woke up terrified, surrounded on all sides by closed miniature curtains, positive there was not enough oxygen in the van and that Michael and I were suffocating to death.
From New York Times ● Apr. 20, 2022
My chest was expanding, all the normal physical motions were there — but it felt as if I were suffocating.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 21, 2020
“You felt trapped, you felt like you were suffocating in all this.”
From The New Yorker ● Jun. 16, 2019
The heat, the thirst, the stench, the lack of air, were suffocating us.
From "Night" by Elie Wiesel
