Suffocating

suf·fo·cate  (sf-kt)

v. suf·fo·cat·ed, suf·fo·cat·ing, suf·fo·cates

v.tr.

1. To kill or destroy by preventing access of air or oxygen.

2. To impair the respiration of; asphyxiate.

3. To cause discomfort to by or as if by cutting off the supply of fresh air.

4. To suppress the development, imagination, or creativity of; stifle: "The rigid formality of the place suffocated her" (Thackeray).

v.intr.

1. To die from lack of air or oxygen; be asphyxiated.

2. To feel discomfort from lack of fresh air.

3. To become or feel suppressed; be stifled.

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[Latin suffcre, suffct- : sub-, sub- + faucs, throat.]

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suffo·cating·ly adv.

suffo·cation n.

suffo·cative adj.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

suffocating - causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat; "the choking June dust"; "the smothering soft voices"; "smothering heat"; "the room was suffocating--hot and airless" smothering, suffocative breathless, dyspneal, dyspneic, dyspnoeal, dyspnoeic - not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty; "breathless at thought of what I had done"; "breathless from running"; "followed the match with breathless interest"