Meaning & use
asphyxiation
Death or unconsciousness caused by a severe lack of oxygen, often from suffocation or choking.
See it in a sentence
The investigation concluded that the fire victims died of smoke inhalation and asphyxiation.
Divers are trained to recognize the early signs of asphyxiation underwater.
A note on using this word
Asphyxiation is a clinical or formal term; in everyday speech, people more often say 'suffocation.'
Words with a similar meaning
suffocation
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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