suffocating Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing
   asphyxiate; suffocate; smother.
   
   • Othello smothered Desdemona with a pillow
   • The child suffocated herself with a plastic bag that the parents had left on the floor
2. verb impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of
   stifle; suffocate; asphyxiate; choke.
   
   • The foul air was slowly suffocating the children
3. verb become stultified, suppressed, or stifled
   suffocate; choke.
   
   • He is suffocating--living at home with his aged parents in the small village
4. verb suppress the development, creativity, or imagination of
   suffocate; choke.
   
   • His job suffocated him
5. verb be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen
   stifle; suffocate; asphyxiate.
   
   • The child suffocated under the pillow
6. verb feel uncomfortable for lack of fresh air
   suffocate.
   
   • The room was hot and stuffy and we were suffocating
7. verb struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake
   gag; strangle; suffocate; choke.
   
   • he swallowed a fishbone and gagged
8. adjective satellite causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
   suffocative; smothering.
   
   • the choking June dust
   • the smothering soft voices
   • smothering heat
   • the room was suffocating--hot and airless

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