Suffocate: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ˜ท
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suffocate

 

[ หˆsสŒf.ษ™.keษชt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

in a closed space

To suffocate means to die or cause someone to die because of a lack of air. This can happen if someone is in a closed space with no fresh air or if something is covering their face or body, preventing them from breathing.

Synonyms

choke, smother, strangle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
suffocate

Used when someone or something is unable to breathe due to lack of air or obstruction, often used in both literal and metaphorical senses.

  • The baby suffocated due to a blocked airway.
  • She felt like she was suffocating under the pressure of her responsibilities.
smother

Implies covering someone or something completely, preventing air from getting through. It also has a metaphorical use to describe excessive care or attention that restricts freedom.

  • The fire was smothered with a blanket.
  • Her mother smothered her with overprotective love.
strangle

Specifically means compressing the throat to cut off air supply, often with violent implications. It generally carries a negative connotation, implying intent to harm.

  • He tried to strangle her in a fit of rage.
  • The restrictive policies are strangling small businesses.
choke

Refers to having difficulty breathing because something is blocking your throat. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a situation where someone fails under pressure.

  • He started to choke on a piece of meat.
  • She choked during the important presentation.

Examples of usage

  • He suffocated in the airtight room.
  • The victim was suffocated with a plastic bag.
  • The child nearly suffocated under the heavy blanket.
Context #2 | Verb

figurative use

To suffocate can also mean to feel extremely constrained, overwhelmed, or stifled, as if you are unable to breathe figuratively. This can refer to emotional, mental, or social situations that make you feel trapped or restricted.

Synonyms

oppress, overwhelm, strangle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
suffocate

Repeated instance; please refer to the previous description for this word.

oppress

Used to describe a situation where a person or group is treated unfairly or cruelly, often leading to feelings of heavy burden. Typically related to social, political, or economic power.

  • The regime continued to oppress the people with harsh new laws.
  • She felt oppressed by the expectations placed upon her.
strangle

Used when describing the act of choking someone by wrapping hands or an object around their neck. It can also be used metaphorically to describe severely limiting someone's freedoms or opportunities.

  • The villain tried to strangle the hero with a rope.
  • New regulations are strangling the small businesses.
overwhelm

Describes a situation where someone is completely overcome by emotion, workload, or another force. It implies a sense of being unable to cope.

  • He was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work.
  • The news of her promotion overwhelmed her with joy.

Examples of usage

  • She felt suffocated by the demands of her job.
  • The strict rules suffocated his creativity.
  • The city noise suffocated her desire for peace.

Translations

Translations of the word "suffocate" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น sufocar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฆเคฎ เค˜เฅเคŸเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ersticken

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ mencekik

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดัƒัˆะธั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ dusiฤ‡ siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็ช’ๆฏใ™ใ‚‹ (ใกใฃใใใ™ใ‚‹)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท รฉtouffer

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sofocar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท boฤŸulmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์งˆ์‹ํ•˜๋‹ค (jilsikada)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงุฎุชู†ู‚ (ikhtanaq)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ udusit se

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ udusiลฅ sa

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ช’ๆฏ (zhรฌxฤซ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zaduลกiti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ kafna

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั‚าฑะฝัˆั‹า“ัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒ“แƒแƒฎแƒ”แƒ“แƒ•แƒ (gadakhidva)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ boฤŸulmaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ sofocar

Etymology

The word 'suffocate' originated in the late Middle English period, derived from the Latin word 'suffocare', meaning 'to stifle' or 'choke'. It has been used in English since the 15th century to describe the act of causing someone to die from lack of air. Over time, its meaning expanded to include the idea of feeling emotionally or mentally overwhelmed. The word continues to be widely used in both literal and figurative contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,786, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.