to smother
35
6.0
- verb
- /ˈsmʌðər/
- His anger was so intense that the words seemed to smother in his throat.
Examples
-
Any noise the horse made down here was smothered by the roar of the water.
Fiction book (1998) -
And right now those mistakes are beginning to pile up on you and in a little while they're gonna smother you.
-
"Joey! Joey!" she said, trying to smother me in a hug.
Fiction book (1997) -
Maybe, but every time I look up there, I get a feeling I'm being smothered.
-
The night seemed to press down on him, smothering, the air heavy and oppressive.
Fiction book (1992) -
Fear was like a blanket; it smothered everything else, smoothing out the things I thought about.
Fiction book (1997) -
Margaret tried to sleep, but she heard scuffling feet and smothered giggles at the foot of her bed.
Fiction book (1992) -
Modern society has smothered our true selves, and driven us from biological destiny.
-
The buzzing of the intercom jolted Isabelle back from the smothering pangs of hopeless regret.
Fiction book (1998) -
She tried to smother her laughter during the serious meeting.
Synonyms
86
4.2
Keep yourself from showing feelings or telling others
71
5.3
To hold back a feeling or reaction so it does not show
65
4.5
To stop yourself from showing strong feelings
48
5.8
To hold back feelings or reactions
42
6.6
Keep strong feelings or memories from coming into the mind
41
5.6
To keep strong feelings inside instead of telling others
41
4.4
Make something less strong or noticeable, for example sound and feeling
28
6.7
To limit growth or activity so it cannot continue
26
4.6
Keep strong feelings under control so you do not act on them
19
5.8
To make a sound or feeling quieter so it is less noticeable
13
7.8
Completely stop protests or criticism
12
5.1
Stop yourself from showing an emotion like tears or laughter
11
5.7
Reduce the strength of feelings or public anger
5
7.0
Stop yourself from showing a feeling when you want to cry
3
6.1
To stop a feeling or action completely
2
7.7
To stop yourself from showing strong feelings like sadness or anger
To hide your feelings so others cannot see them
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
1
7.0
To give someone so much care and affection that they feel overwhelmed
How Suppressed
35
6.0
42
6.6
71
5.3
48
5.8
26
4.6
86
4.2
Surface Forms
Etymology
A helpful way to remember smother is to think of covering a feeling so it cannot 'breathe' or show itself. So to smother an emotion is to hold it back or stop it from coming out.