suffocate meaning

suffocate as a verb

1. deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing
   • Othello smothered Desdemona with a pillow
   • The child suffocated herself with a plastic bag that the parents had left on the floor

   Synonyms: smother, asphyxiate

   Type of: kill

   Related forms: suffocation

2. impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of
   • The foul air was slowly suffocating the children

   Synonyms: stifle, asphyxiate, choke

   Type of: obstruct

   Related forms: suffocative, suffocation

3. become stultified, suppressed, or stifled
   • He is suffocating--living at home with his aged parents in the small village

   Synonyms: choke

   Type of: become

4. suppress the development, creativity, or imagination of
   • His job suffocated him

   Synonyms: choke

   Type of: stifle

5. be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen
   • The child suffocated under the pillow

   Synonyms: stifle, asphyxiate

   Type of: die

   Kinds: strangle

   Related forms: suffocative, suffocation

6. feel uncomfortable for lack of fresh air
   • The room was hot and stuffy and we were suffocating

   Type of: feel

   Related forms: suffocative

7. struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake
   • he swallowed a fishbone and gagged

   Synonyms: gag, choke, strangle

   Type of: suffer

   Related forms: suffocative, suffocation

How to pronounce suffocate

suffocate is pronounced /ˈsʌfəkeɪt/ in American English. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.