1. (

• smother ,
• asphyxiate ,
• suffocate

) deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing; "Othello smothered Desdemona with a pillow"; "The child suffocated herself with a plastic bag that the parents had left on the floor" ;

2. (

• suffocate ,
• stifle ,
• asphyxiate ,
• choke ,

) impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of; "The foul air was slowly suffocating the children" ;

3. (

• suffocate ,
• choke ,

) become stultified, suppressed, or stifled; "He is suffocating;

4. (

• suffocate ,
• choke ,

) suppress the development, creativity, or imagination of; "His job suffocated him" ;

5. (

• suffocate ,
• stifle ,
• asphyxiate

) be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen; "The child suffocated under the pillow" ;

6. (

• suffocate ,

) feel uncomfortable for lack of fresh air; "The room was hot and stuffy and we were suffocating" ;

7. (

• gag ,
• choke ,
• strangle ,
• suffocate ,

) struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake; "he swallowed a fishbone and gagged" ;