to suffocate
37
5.7
- verb
- /ˈsʌfəˌkeɪt/
- After years of strict rules and expectations, I felt like my job was suffocating my creativity.
- feel suffocated
- escape the suffocating atmosphere
Loading YouTube…
Watch on YouTubeWhen desire gets suffocated, what's left is just love.
- When desire gets suffocated, what's left is just love.
- I feel like this society is just suffocating this warrior class of males.
- Is that enough to slowly suffocate the integrity of a journalist?
- I'm suffocated in this space, right?
- So, so meaning that let's say I learned that I was suffocated by the overwhelming parent.
- Here's a couple of don'ts, All right, Polo's so shrunken they suffocate your biceps.
- It's about so that they can't shut your banks down, counsel you and suffocate all of your earning streams.
- That characteristic, that pluck, that initiative, the resourcefulness was not suffocated by slavery.
- It's about so that they can't shut your banks down, cancel you and suffocate all of your earning streams.
- There are some other retailers I'm sure many of you know who for some reason want to cage you in and suffocate you with their swim tops.
- It's it's part of their DNA to suppress free speech because that that suffocates their position, transparency and open debate.
- You know, it's like it's so easy to feel suffocated by the things people are telling you you should be doing.
- Well that's not looking good for her because you because you can tell when someone is stressed or suffocating.
- Obviously it's too it's like suffocating my boobs.
Examples
-
"Consumer culture," as we are fond of calling it, ends up suffocating the human spirit.
Academic text (2001) -
A nation and its citizens can become paralyzed when they are suffocated under corrupt and oppressive leaders.
Academic text (2008) -
There were times in those first weeks when I thought I might suffocate with happiness.
Fiction book (1991) -
Is that enough to slowly suffocate the integrity of a journalist?
-
"This family is suffocating me.
-
Because at times, the act of living can be suffocating!
-
I felt like I was suffocating.
-
I really hate feeling suffocated.
-
I feel like this society is just suffocating this warrior class of males.
-
A burqa wearer may feel that she cannot breathe, that she might slowly be suffocating.
Academic text (2010)
Synonyms
77
4.9
To find it hard to speak because you feel strong emotion
28
6.7
To limit growth or activity so it cannot continue
13
5.8
Make something less fun or exciting
3
6.1
To stop a feeling or action completely
2
6.3
Make someone unable to act naturally or show feelings
Antonyms
Idioms
How Restricted
276
4.7
35
6.0
71
5.3
37
5.7
53
5.6
233
4.6
465
2.1
Surface Forms
Etymology
Suffocate also has a figurative meaning and keeps the same strong image as the physical act: like being 'smothered' or 'choked', there is no room to grow or breathe. That's why we say ideas, creativity, or people can suffocate when they feel trapped or very limited.