Stifling

Pronunciation: /ˈstaɪfəl/

Stifling (verb)

  1. To make someone unable to breathe easily.
  2. To stop yourself from showing emotions or reactions.
  3. To stop something from developing or growing.

Examples

  • The thick smoke made it hard to stifle a cough.
  • She tried to stifle her breath in the dusty room.

Common collocations: stifle a cough, stifle a breath, stifle laughter, stifle anger, stifle emotions

Synonyms of Stifling

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Antonyms of Stifling

  • when discussing suppression or restraint
  • when discussing inhibiting or quelling