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

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

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.