Meaning & use
suffocate
To die or struggle to breathe because of a lack of air, or to cause this to happen.
See it in a sentence
The smoke was so thick that firefighters feared people inside might suffocate.
Thick vines can suffocate a young tree by blocking its light and air.
A note on using this word
Also used figuratively for feeling stifled, as in rules that "suffocate" creativity or growth.
Words with a similar meaning
asphyxiatesmother
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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