Suffocate: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ท
suffocate
[ หsสf.ษ.keษชt ]
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
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
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.
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
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| overwhelm |
Describes a situation where someone is completely overcome by emotion, workload, or another force. It implies a sense of being unable to cope.
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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:
๐ต๐น sufocar
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฆเคฎ เคเฅเคเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช ersticken
๐ฎ๐ฉ mencekik
๐บ๐ฆ ะดััะธัะธ
๐ต๐ฑ dusiฤ siฤ
๐ฏ๐ต ็ชๆฏใใ (ใกใฃใใใใ)
๐ซ๐ท รฉtouffer
๐ช๐ธ sofocar
๐น๐ท boฤulmak
๐ฐ๐ท ์ง์ํ๋ค (jilsikada)
๐ธ๐ฆ ุงุฎุชูู (ikhtanaq)
๐จ๐ฟ udusit se
๐ธ๐ฐ udusiลฅ sa
๐จ๐ณ ็ชๆฏ (zhรฌxฤซ)
๐ธ๐ฎ zaduลกiti
๐ฎ๐ธ kafna
๐ฐ๐ฟ ัาฑะฝััาั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแฎแแแแ (gadakhidva)
๐ฆ๐ฟ boฤulmaq
๐ฒ๐ฝ 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.